Sharapova doubtful for Australia Open

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova has been removed from the tournament in Brisbane, where he was to start the season with a sprained ankle, but hopes to be fully recovered in the face of Australia Open, the first 'Grand Slam' of the course, begins on 16 January.

"Unfortunately my ankle is not one hundred percent and I can not come this year. I was looking forward to the 2012 season in Brisbane, a tournament with a fantastic reputation for giving a warm welcome to players," said the exnúmero one of the world, would compete for the first time in the event.

The Siberian hopes to be recovered for the 'big' Australia, where he defeated in 2008. "I hope to be ready for the first Grand Slam of the year and am looking forward to the track," he said in a statement on the web.