Sharapova to miss Stuttgart event with shoulder injury

STUTTGART, Germany, Sep 27 (Reuters) Russia's Maria Sharapova will miss the Stuttgart Grand Prix next week because of a shoulder injury, organisers said.

The world number four was forced to miss Russia's Fed Cup final victory over Italy this month because of the injury, which she has been carrying since March.

Sharapova, the former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion, will not play again until the season-ending championships in Madrid at the earliest, Stuttgart organisers said in a statement yesterday.

Nine of the world's top 10 women are still scheduled to play in the Stuttgart event.

REUTERS BJR HS1427