World number three Maria Sharapova pulled out of the Beijing Olympics on Thursday after an MRI scan on her right shoulder revealed two small tears.
The Russian was examined by doctors after withdrawing from the Montreal Cup late on Wednesday evening with a sore shoulder following a 7-5 5-7 6-2 win over Poland's Marta Domachowska.
"After yesterday's match I knew there was something seriously wrong with my shoulder," Sharapova said on her website (www.mariasharapova.com).
"After taking a few different exams and MRI's this morning, the doctors found two small tears in the tendons of my shoulder.
"There are so many mixed feelings because last night they were almost positive there was something wrong with my nerve, which could have ultimately been much more serious.
"But after the tests this morning, for the first time in a while, they were able to give me a different answer and a different problem.
"But on the other hand this is something that needs a lot of time to heal, which really hurts me to say that I have to miss the Olympics."
