Zvonareva to replace injured Sharapova in Beijing

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

MOSCOW (AFP) — Vera Zvonareva will replace the injured Maria Sharapova at the Beijing Olympics, Russian tennis federation official Vladimir Kamelzon said on Friday.

Kamelzon said that Fed Cup skipper Shamil Tarpishchev had been in charge of naming Sharapova's replacement after the world number three withdrew earlier Friday with a shoulder injury.

"He told me that Zvonareva, 23, who will play in the doubles tournament together with Yelena Vesnina, will replace Sharapova in the singles competition," he said.

Sharapova, 21, withdrew from the Montreal WTA event on Wednesday after a marathon second-round win over Marta Domachowska, and a scan revealed two small tears in her right shoulder.

The injury also throws her US Open participation into doubt....