News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 11 years ago
Home  » Sports » Sharapova, Williams set to be fit for Brisbane

Sharapova, Williams set to be fit for Brisbane

December 27, 2012 15:41 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams will be fit to play at the Brisbane International, which begins this weekend, after injury scares, organisers said on Thursday.

French Open champion Sharapova pulled out of an exhibition match against Caroline Wozniacki scheduled for Friday in Seoul because of a sore collarbone.

But the Russian, along with Williams one of the biggest draws in women's tennis, is due to arrive for the December 30-January 6 tournament on Saturday.

Maria SharapovaSharapova withdrew from the Australian Open warm-up event last year.

Williams, who won a fifth Wimbledon title, Olympic singles gold and a fourth U.S. Open crown in 2012, also pulled out of an exhibition against China's Li Na in Thailand last week.

However, the American has been given the green light to participate in Brisbane following toe surgery.

"It's great that they're both going to be fit to play the first tournament of the year," tournament organiser Cameron Pearson told Australian media.

Eight of the world's top 10 women are scheduled to play in the $1.5 million Brisbane event, including number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Azarenka and Sharapova will both receive first-round byes, as do the top four seeds in the men's draw, headed by Britain's Olympic and U.S. Open champion Andy Murray.

Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

India In Australia 2024-2025