"World No. 2 Maria Sharapova has pulled out of next week's Family Circle Cup in Charleston and will also skip making her Federation Cup debut next month because of recent injuries.
Sharapova lost her top ranking to Justine Henin two weeks ago and continues to be bothered by a nagging right shoulder injury and injured left hamstring.
Expected to play for Russia against Spain in the upcoming Fed Cup on April 21-22, Sharapova will likely miss up to six weeks of competitive tennis. Sharapova lost to Serena Williams in the fourth round of last week's Sony Ericsson Open in Miami after losing to Williams in the final of the year's first Grand Slam, the Australian Open. Both times, the more powerful Williams disposed of the higher ranked player easily."
