Sick Sharapova pulls out of Toronto tennis

World No.2 Maria Sharapova withdrew from the WTA Toronto tennis event on Wednesday citing a viral infection.

The Russian Olympic silver medallist joins US gold medal winner Serena Williams in missing the event, which falls directly after the end of the Games’ tennis competition.

“I’m sorry not to be able to play,” Sharapova said. “I have a bad viral infection which I must have picked up after London.”

Sharapova will be replaced in the draw by Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan.

In second round matches on Wednesday, fifth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova rallied to beat Kazakhstani Ksenia Pervak 4-6 7-6 (7-0) 6-0. Italy’s Sara Errani, the eighth seed, cruised past Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova 6-3 6-2 and fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta advanced when South African Chanelle Scheepers retired with an injury in the second set.

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