(March 3, 2016) World No. 7 Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open due to a left forearm injury.
“I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to compete in this year’s BNP Paribas Open,” said Sharapova. “I have been focused on healing my left forearm injury and tried to get my body to be 100% ready to play this event, as it is one of my favorite events on the WTA and so close to my home in LA. I know the tournament will be a great success this year and I will be anxious to return next year and hopefully many years after.”
With Sharapova’s withdrawal, Mariana Duque-Marino moves into the main draw.
Eight Americans, along with two-time BNP Paribas Open Champion Daniela Hantuchova and former British No. 1 Heather Watson, were awarded wildcards into the BNP Paribas Open, to be held March 7-20 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, it was announced by CEO Raymond Moore.
Americans who were granted wildcards into the main draws include Rajeev Ram, who reached the finals of Delray Beach last month; Frances Tiafoe, the youngest player in Top 200 of the ATP World Tour rankings; Mackenzie McDonald, a former collegiate standout at UCLA and Pac-12 Player of the Year; Samantha Crawford, who reached the semifinals at Brisbane in January; Alison Riske, who reached the finals at Shenzen earlier this season; Lauren Davis, who reached the third round of the 2016 Australian Open; Jamie Loeb, who won the 2015 NCAA Singles title at the University of North Carolina; and Shelby Rogers, who reached the finals at Rio de Janeiro in February.
2009 U.S. Open Champion Juan Martin del Potro, American Taylor Fritz and Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai were previously awarded wildcards into the main draw.
Grand Slam Champions Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Ana Ivanovic and Petra Kvitova were granted wildcards into the doubles draws. Murray teams with Colin Fleming, Wawrinka pairs with Mahesh Bhupathi, Ivanovic partners with Kirsten Flipkens, and Kvitova will play with Denisa Allertova.
There are also three more men’s and two more women’s qualifying draw wildcards to be distributed. Two of those qualifying wildcards will be given to the men’s and women’s winners of the BNP Paribas Open Challenge, the pre-qualifying event for the tournament.
