Unfit Maria Sharapova lowering US Open title expectations

The Russian former world No 1 is struggling with a muscle strain in her right leg.

Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Rogers Cup in Toronto this month due to a muscle strain in her right leg. Peter Foley / EPA

Maria Sharapova’s chances of stopping Serena Williams win a fourth grand slam title this year are in doubt after the Russian conceded she was still short of fitness a day before the start of the US Open.

Sharapova is struggling with a muscle strain in her right leg, and she has not played a competitive match since losing to Williams in the Wimbledon semi-finals just more than seven weeks ago.

The five-time major champion was forced to withdraw from the Rogers Cup in Toronto earlier this month and has only been able to do limited training in the build-up to the year’s last major tournament.

“You have to be realistic and limit your expectations, but it’s not easy,” Sharapova said.

“As a competitor, when you get on the court you want to do the best you can.

“I will try limit my expectations, but it’s not easy.

“I’m feeling better. It’s just a time thing, dealing with these niggling issues. It’s a process.”

Sharapova could meet Williams in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, and despite a miserable record against the American, she represents one of the few who could trouble the defending champion.

Williams is hoping to become the first woman to win a calendar grand slam since Steffi Graff in 1988 and the fourth to achieve the feat in history.

“In many ways it’s just a huge bonus for her to be in this position,” Sharapova said.

“She’s got so many great memories and victories in New York, and being back for such a special occasion is a big story.

“Has she got a great chance? I think you could safely say that, yes.”

Williams has lost only two matches so far this year, and a triumph at Flushing Meadows would see her draw level with Graf’s 22 major titles and move one closer to Margaret Court’s all-time best of 24.

The 33-year-old American’s dominance has led to questions regarding the standard of the rest of the field, with Sharapova herself losing all of their last 17 meetings.

“She’s been playing at an incredible level,” Sharapova said. “It doesn’t take anything away from the other players. We have to step up.

“When we want to go out on the court, we want to perform better and that’s what drives us. If we didn’t think we could then I personally wouldn’t be able to go out on the court.”

Williams plays Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko in the first round in New York while Sharapova opens up against Australian Daria Gavrilova.

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