It's the classic case of adding insult to injury for Maria Sharapova.
The Russian tennis star said following her Australian Open quarterfinals loss to No. 1 Serena Williams that she would skip a month of tennis to heal an injured forearm.
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The time off, however, could jeopardize Sharapova's hopes of competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics, according to AFP.
"If she withdraws from playing with Netherlands and we lose the match, she will not play at the Olympics," Russian tennis federation boss Shamil Tarpishchev said about the upcoming Fed Cup, according to Agence France-Presse, citing comments in Russian to news agency TASS.
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Sharapova lost to Williams for the 18th straight time, 6-4, 6-1, on Tuesday (Monday night in America). Of course, Sharapova wasn't going to withdraw from the Australian Open, the year's first major, despite her ailing forearm.
"I'm going to go and take care of my forearm first," she said Tuesday when asked about her timetable for a return. "I think that's really important. I'm going to go to Moscow [for Fed Cup], be part of the team. I don't think I'll be playing. Then I'm not sure.
"But I think this will be a time to just get myself ready for a long year. I don't see myself playing anything before Indian Wells [in March]."
Tarpishchev, however, said Sharapova might want to rethink her plans.
"If Sharapova wants to compete at the Olympics she has to play for Russia in the Fed Cup," Tarpishchev said. "That's the rule, and she needs either to play against Netherlands or in Russia's next Fed Cup match if we manage to go through."
And, according to Rappler.com, Tarpishchev added, "Probably Sharapova has issued her statement too rashly. I think she and her managers should consider their decision once again."
Confusion exists as to whether it's Tarpishchev or someone else denying her the opportunity of playing. The International Tennis Federation said Sharapova need only be a member of the Russian Fed Cup team to be eligible.
"In order to complete her eligibility for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Maria Sharapova must be part of the final nominated Russian team," an ITF official said in an email. "She does not need to contest a rubber, however she must be present at the tie. If she chooses not to join the team for the first round [against the Netherlands], she will have the opportunity to meet the Olympic criteria again in the semifinals and play-offs in April."
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