Ill Sharapova out of Canadian Open

London: Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has been forced to withdraw from the Rogers Cup in Montreal because of a "bad stomach virus", organisers said Wednesday.

The World No.2 picked up the bug while in London for the Olympics, where she won silver. "It`s disappointing for our fans and for all of us, but its part of the game, unfortunately," tournament director Eugene Lapierre said in a statement on the official website. "Maria showed exceptional professionalism making the trip to Montreal, coming on site and tried to practice, despite the fact she had not been feeling well." Sharapova was due to play either Dutch player Arantxa Rus or US player Christina McHale in the second round after receiving a bye for the first round of the Rogers Cup, also known as the Canadian Open. She will now be replaced by Kazakhstani World No. 57 Galina Voskoboeva. IANS