Maria Sharapova ends her 2018 season

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Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova withdrew from the China Open in Beijing, the Tianjin Open, and the Kremlin Cup in Moscow due to injury, claiming an end to her 2018 WTA season, she announced on Monday.

"I was looking forward to coming back to Tianjin to defend my title but unfortunately I need to give myself time to recover from injury,” Sharapova told Tianjin organizers in a statement.

“I am disappointed that I won't be able to play in front of all of the fans in Tianjin again and I hope to be able to play there in the future. I wish everyone at the tournament a successful five-year anniversary,” she added.

Maria Sharapova plays against Carla Suarez Navarro during the fourth round of women's singles during the 2018 US Open tennis tournament in New York, on September 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

The world No. 24 is targeting the Shenzhen Open in early January as the start of her 2019 season.

The 31-year-old was knocked out of the US Open in the fourth round on Sept. 3 this year, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, who inflicted the Russian's first ever night-time loss at the tournament.

(with inputs from AFP)