Maria Sharapova to miss season-ending Istanbul tourney

Maria Sharapova will miss the WTA Championships as she suffers from a lingering shoulder injury.

The tennis star withdrew Monday from the end-of-season tournament in Istanbul. The same injury kept her out of the U.S. Open.

Sharapova, 26, has not played since August, when she lost to Sloane Stephens in the second round of the Western and Southern Open.

"I am very disappointed I will not be able to play in the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championship this year," Sharapova told the tour website Monday.

"The fans in Istanbul have welcomed us each year with such intense passion and warmth. I will sincerely miss the energy and excitement they bring to the year-end tournament."

The four-time grand-slam winner, who fired coach Jimmy Connors following the loss to Stephens, has been struggling from inflammation in her right shoulder since August.

Her absence from the tournament will allow three more players to qualify for the tournament, including French Open semifinalist Sara Errani and China Open semifinalist Petra Kvitova.