Sharapova will miss China dates

Maria Sharapova is shutting down her season and will withdraw from the three tournaments in which she was set to compete later this year, including two in China.

The Russian star is looking to get some rest and will not participate in Beijing's China Open, the Tianjin Open or the VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

Sharapova reportedly plans to start her 2019 campaign at the season-opening Shenzhen Open－the same event where she began this season and put together one of her best runs of the year to reach the semifinals.

The 31-year-old had a mixed bag of results at Grand Slams in 2018.

She reached the quarterfinals at the French Open, the last 16 at the US Open, the last 32 at the Australian Open and was bounced in the opening round at Wimbledon.

Shamil Tarpishchev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation, on Monday confirmed earlier media reports that Sharapova has decided to close the season and pull out of her scheduled tournaments.

Asked whether this information was true, Tarpishchev said it was "a 50-50 situation regarding Sharapova, but after consulting with doctors she decided to close the season ahead of time and to concentrate on her health".

"She made the decision to start the next season in her optimal physical condition," he added.

"However, it is still possible that she would simply come to Moscow (for the Kremlin Cup) as she had planned to do, but in the capacity of an honorary guest."

Two weeks ago, Sharapova was knocked out of the US Open after a straight-sets defeat to Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro.

Sharapova had won 23 consecutive matches under the lights, including her previous three contests this year, but Suarez Navarro, on her 30th birthday, clinched a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Sharapova's next scheduled tournament was expected to be the Kremlin Cup from Oct 11-21.

TASS