Will it be soon or never for Maria Sharapova to return on tour?
"To all my amazing fans in Germany that travel to see me playing...in Stuttgart each year...sorry to inform you that I have just run out of time to be ready to play in Stuttgart. I am making very good progress but just not ready to compete at the highest level, " Maria Sharapova had said on social media. This was a coincidence of being the same place that she re-established her competition after her drug ban comeback in 2017. What a difference a few years have made.
It may be difficult for players to return at the same status and level of play they left. She was used to grand slam type play and feels that would be her goal to produce upon re-entering the tour. Sharapova has said, "I think when you've been in that position and you've been able to produce that type of tennis there are definitely memories of that and that's what you work towards." Many factors have come into play since she's gotten back on the court in 2017: There were players not comfortable with her being present and voiced their opinions. She had to get through that. The idea of how the crowds felt about her again had to be seen. Then again it was the idea of competing instead of just practising. The day-to-day playing had simply worn her body down forcing her to adapt to the ailments, with recovery time and then playing again.
Last season 2018, she did well especially in the clay court times, going deep in the quarterfinals of Madrid and Roland Garros as well as the semifinals in Rome. But Sharapova wasn't without her withdrawals and cancelled participations happening at the China Open, Tianjin Open and the Kremlin Cup. Since the new season this year in 2019, she's only played three tournaments whereas a healthy competitor might have participated in nearly three times as many. Sharapova's challenge might not have only been her competition but remaining injury-free while playing. Unfortunately, she hasn't accomplished that and began to develop chronic thigh, arm, forearm and shoulder conditions forcing her to withdraw from various tournaments. The biggest ailment is her right shoulder and a few months ago she withdrew from Indian Wells and Miami to get a procedure done for healing quicker purposes.
Chronic injuries and ailments do take time, but as Maria Sharapova has said about entering the Stuttgart event: "...I have just run out of time to be ready..." Has Maria Sharapova come to the end of her expiration date on returning on tour? Despite her fans or the tennis community being eager for her return, if it's not soon, she may be facing a deeper upheaval. She may not be able to compete with the other players on the same scale she's used to playing. They have continually played, raised their level of participation and are tougher than Sharapova had experienced the last time she's seen them play or been on the court with them. Decisions have to be made and only one person can make them -- Maria Sharapova.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2IGTyg9
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