Ailing Sharapova drops out of event

CINCINNATI — World No. 2 Maria Sharapova withdrew Friday from next week’s ATP-WTA Cincinnati event with the same stomach virus which has kept her from this week’s tournament in Montreal. The Russian Olympic silver medalist reported on her website that she would not play any events before the US Open begins in just over a fortnight. In Toronto, world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka withdrew from that event as well as from Cincinnati due to a knee which has bothered her for some days. She indicated that she has yet to recover energy after the London Olympics. — AFP