<p> Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane International on Tuesday due to inflammation around her collarbone and the World No 2 is still unable to hit a serve just two weeks before the start of the Australian Open. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Sharapova was forced to withdraw from her second-round match against Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova in Brisbane, saying it was the "smart move" to make. <br /><br />The French Open champion also pulled out of an exhibition match against Caroline Wozniacki at the end of December in Seoul because of a sore collarbone. <br /><br />"That's why I had to pull out of the exhibition match I had in Korea," she said at a news conference on Tuesday. <br /><br />"I had a bit of inflammation in my collarbone. My doctor in New York told me I couldn't really do much overhead training for about a week. <br /><br />So to be fair, I haven't really given myself a chance to pretty much hit any serves or anything over my head. Just been practicing groundstrokes,’’ she added. <br /><br />"So I just kind of ran out of time here,’’ Sharapova said. <br /><br />While the season's first Grand Slam is set to start on January 14, Sharapova was not overly concerned about her preparations.<br /><br />"I still have quite a bit of time to prepare for the Australian Open," she added. "I'm on the right track, been training really well, so I just don't want to jeopardise what I've gained in the off-season so far. I just have to make a smart move here,’’ the Russian said. <br />Sharapova said she expected to travel straight to Melbourne rather than make a late entry into the Sydney International next week. <br /><br />Serena on course for No 1<br /><br />Serena Williams credited a more subdued lifestyle on Tuesday for the current form which has put her on track to succeed fellow-American Chris Evert as the oldest world number one in women's tennis. <br /><br />Williams, who recorded a serve of 200 kms an hour during a second-round 6-2, 6-2 win over France's Alize Cornet at the Brisbane International, is currently ranked third in the world. <br /><br />However, the 31-year-old is regarded as the pre-eminent woman player at the moment after winning the Wimbledon, US and Olympic titles last year. Evert was aged 30 years 11 months when she was number one in 1985. </p>
<p> Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane International on Tuesday due to inflammation around her collarbone and the World No 2 is still unable to hit a serve just two weeks before the start of the Australian Open. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Sharapova was forced to withdraw from her second-round match against Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova in Brisbane, saying it was the "smart move" to make. <br /><br />The French Open champion also pulled out of an exhibition match against Caroline Wozniacki at the end of December in Seoul because of a sore collarbone. <br /><br />"That's why I had to pull out of the exhibition match I had in Korea," she said at a news conference on Tuesday. <br /><br />"I had a bit of inflammation in my collarbone. My doctor in New York told me I couldn't really do much overhead training for about a week. <br /><br />So to be fair, I haven't really given myself a chance to pretty much hit any serves or anything over my head. Just been practicing groundstrokes,’’ she added. <br /><br />"So I just kind of ran out of time here,’’ Sharapova said. <br /><br />While the season's first Grand Slam is set to start on January 14, Sharapova was not overly concerned about her preparations.<br /><br />"I still have quite a bit of time to prepare for the Australian Open," she added. "I'm on the right track, been training really well, so I just don't want to jeopardise what I've gained in the off-season so far. I just have to make a smart move here,’’ the Russian said. <br />Sharapova said she expected to travel straight to Melbourne rather than make a late entry into the Sydney International next week. <br /><br />Serena on course for No 1<br /><br />Serena Williams credited a more subdued lifestyle on Tuesday for the current form which has put her on track to succeed fellow-American Chris Evert as the oldest world number one in women's tennis. <br /><br />Williams, who recorded a serve of 200 kms an hour during a second-round 6-2, 6-2 win over France's Alize Cornet at the Brisbane International, is currently ranked third in the world. <br /><br />However, the 31-year-old is regarded as the pre-eminent woman player at the moment after winning the Wimbledon, US and Olympic titles last year. Evert was aged 30 years 11 months when she was number one in 1985. </p>