Moscow: Maria Sharapova faces up to six weeks out of action due to an elbow injury, organisers of next week's Sony Ericsson Open said.
The three-times grand slam champion was due to compete in the event at Key Biscayne, Miami but an MRI scan revealed a bone bruise on her right elbow.
Organisers said in a statement that the Russian, who won earlier this year in Memphis but had an early exit at Indian Wells on Sunday, was expected to miss three-to-six weeks of competition.
World number two Dinara Safina and 2008 Sony Ericsson men's champion Nikolay Davydenko have also withdrawn from this year's Miami event. Russian Safina is suffering a back injury while Davydenko has a left wrist fracture.
Five-times champion Serena Williams and her sister Venus headline the women's field while Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal top a strong men's field.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, March 18, 2010, 09:45