Sharapova sympathizes with injured Serena

Maria Sharapova sympathizes with Serena Williams’ decision to pull out of her semifinal in Rome as a precautionary measure ahead of Roland Garros, to not further injure her sore back.

"It's tough, and in terms of Serena playing six matches in eight days and only one day off coming here, and its difficult to play and when you have five or six matches because she didn't have a bye," Sharapova told reporters. "It is challenging and so in a week or so with the French Open. I was in her position also here and it’s a tough, because you get yourself into that position and you just want to be healthy. You have an additional big event and with the French Open in a week's time, then Wimbledon and then the Olympics and then the US Open—like, four Grand Slams in a row back-to-back and not getting scared and just monitoring how you feel and not over do it. Some people can play more and some less."