Maria Sharapova falls to Jie Zheng 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in the third round of Indian Wells, being treated for a right elbow injury up a break at 3-2 in the third set.
“I just felt like I couldn't really extend it all the way,” Sharapova said of the elbow, which also troubled her at the U.S. Open. “It was a little stuck. I'm not sure if it's the balls or maybe the air and the tension is a little bit tighter. But [the trainer] said that more than average have been complaining about arms, so I don't know.”
Sharapova's results this season have been mixed, with the Russian falling in the first round of the Australian Open but winning the title Memphis before this latest exit. The three-time Grand Slam champion is still looking to recapture her past form after returning to the tour last spring following shoulder surgery.
“It's just the mystery of the unknown,” she said “We can only do so much and work as much as we can. It's a combination of both physically and mentally just getting stronger and little steps. I think I'm doing a lot better than other people that have had shoulder surgery in their careers. Some people have never come back. What, I'm 13 in the world or something? That's a lot better than some of the girls I've lost to in the last year.”