Sharapova makes unwanted history in horror season

The worst on-court season of Maria Sharapova’s career has come to an end as her comeback continues to stall.

In her second year back from a doping ban, the 31-year-old did not make a single final and was knocked out in her first match at four events.

It is the first time Sharapova has failed to win a title since she joined the professional WTA tour full-time in 2003.

The world No.24 was due to play in Beijing, Tianjin and Moscow but has pulled out of all three events and will return in the first week of 2019.

“I was looking forward to coming back to Tianjin to defend my title but unfortunately I need to give myself time to recover from injury,” Sharapova said in a statement released by the Tianjin Open, where she won in October 2017.

Her season ends with a record of 20-11, with the winning percentage of 64.5 the lowest of her WTA career.

Sharapova’s best result at the grand slams was a quarter-final appearance at the French Open.

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The year was bookended by third-round and fourth-round showings in Australia and the US respectively.

Sharapova followed the report that her season was over by tweeting footage of a gym session.

The controversial Russian was the subject of criticism at the US Open, with officials accused of giving her ‘preferential’ treatment.

As dozens of players sweltered in the humidity and heat of the New York day, Sharapova was scheduled at night for all four of her matches.

Even six-time champion Serena Williams had to play one match in the afternoon.

“It is very unfair,” retired player Daniela Hantuchova told broadcaster Amazon Prime.

“There are rules and then there are rules for certain players.”

Sharapova had a flawless 23-0 career record under the lights at Flushing Meadows until she was knocked out of the 2018 tournament by Carla Suarez Navarro.

The Russian, who turns 32 next April, is likely to remain a low seed for the 2019 Australian Open after the grand slams recently announced they had backed out of a return to 16 seeds and would retain the current 32-seed system.

Aussie moves on in Japan

Daria Gavrilova has booked a clash with world No.8 Karolina Pliskova at the Pan Pacific Open after grinding out a first-round win over her sister Kristyna.

The Australian won 7-6(2) 3-6 7-6(8) in a match that lasted almost three hours against the Czech wildcard in Tokyo on Monday.

In other games, Garbine Muguruza advanced after beating sixth seed Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-4 and Anett Kontaveit defeated Kristina Mladenovic 6-3 7-6(5).

Top three seeds Caroline Wozniacki, Caroline Garcia and US Open champion Naomi Osaka had byes in the first round.

with agencies