Title holder Maria Sharapova on Wednesday withdrew from next week’s China Open over a left forearm injury.
The world number three suffered the injury and quit in the third set of her opening match against Czech Barbora Strycova on Monday at the Wuhan Open.
Sharapova has not played a complete match since Wimbledon almost three months ago, where she lost to Serena Williams in the semi-finals.
“I am very disappointed to have to pull out of the China Open this year and not have the chance to defend my title,’’ Sharapova said in a statement.
The 28-year-old missed the hard-court summer with a leg problem and is now focusing on Russia’s Fed Cup final in the Czech Republic as well as the WTA season wrap up event in Singapore.