A pair of the WTA's biggest stars withdrew almost simultaneously from the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati due to health issues.
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Now both Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams are hoping to be ready and healthy in time for the upcoming US Open.
No. 2 seed Sharapova pulled out of the event with a right leg injury prior to her scheduled second round match on Wednesday against Varvara Lepchenko. It's the same injury that forced the Russian star out of last week's event in Toronto.
"It's a tough decision to make, but I think a wise one, in order to give myself the right amount of time to be as healthy as I can be for the Open, which I believe is very realistic, but I don't know if it would be realistic if I did compete and start tomorrow," Sharapova said about her decision not to play.
Sharapova, who won the title in 2011, said that the injury initially surfaced while she was training before Toronto. Despite not having much match play, Sharapova is confident she'll be ready for New York.
"I think I would be if I tried to go out and try to play five days in a row," Sharapova said when asked if she was concerned about New York. "But knowing that that I have this time, I'm very confident I will be healthy."
Williams withdrew due to a viral illness minutes before she was to face No. 6 seed Ana Ivanovic in their second round encounter. During a pre-match warmup, Williams first sensed that she wouldn't be able to compete.
"Yeah, it's pretty rare that I withdraw or retire, so I just wasn't able to get out there tonight. Every match you have to be at your best, you know, to win," Williams said. "Just couldn't be at my best today."
Williams, who won her first round match against Zarina Diyas, will now try and rest up before heading up to New York.
"I definitely want to go home to Florida, but it's just something I got to do and get ready for the Open. I definitely would have liked to have more matches, but I have to use my experience now."
Photo Credit: CameraSport/Stephen White