Never mind what she just said days ago; Maria Sharapova has called a press conference for Monday to make a "major announcement" and she already is being ushered off to the old retired athletes' home with Peyton Manning.
The world's No. 7 player announced Sunday that she will address the media at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, according to multiple reports. Her agent, Max Eisenbud has declined to indicate the subject matter of the announcement, knowing full well that rumors of Sharapova's retirement would saturate the social media world like a virus.
Maria Sharapova's Agent: Retirement A Possibility If Health Isn't Good
Sharapova has not played since the Australian Open, where she lost to nemesis Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. She pulled out of tournaments in Brisbane, Qatar and Indian Wells because of a forearm injury that has plagued her for all of 2016.
That has poured gasoline on the speculation that Monday's news conference could be about retiring. Sharapova's career, while highly successful, has be littered with injuries -- primarily to her right shoulder -- that has kept her from rivaling Williams for the title of greatest women's tennis player of this generation.
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And Eisenbud said early last month that retirement was a possibility if Sharapova continued to suffer from poor health.
The speculation flies in the face of a statement the Russian star released last week when she pulled out at Indian Wells.
"I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to compete in this year's BNP Paribas Open," Sharapova said in a statement, according to ESPN. "I have been focused on healing my left forearm injury and tried to get my body to be 100 percent ready to play this event, as it is one of my favorite events on the WTA and so close to my home in L.A. 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."
Sharapova also happens to be a shrewd businesswoman, so she may have just used her business savvy to garner a larger audience for her next project. She isn't one to bring attention to herself this way -- at least about her tennis career.
The retirement rumor, while possible, just doesn't seem to add up at this point.
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