Mauresmo, Sharapova withdraw from Italian Open

Top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo and World No.3 Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Italian Open on Sunday following health problems.

Top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo and World No.3 Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Italian Open on Sunday.

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Mauresmo, two-time defending champion in Rome, said she had a cold and fever. Sharapova has a bruised bone in her right ankle. The tournament, which starts Monday, is a clay-court warm-up for the French Open, which starts in two weeks.

Mauresmo lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semifinals of the German Open on Saturday.

Sharapova has not played since losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final of the Nasdaq-100 Open on April 1.