Maria Sharapova to miss Rogers Cup in Toronto with arm injury

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova will miss next week's Rogers Cup in Toronto due to an injury.

Organizers say she is suffering from "pain in her left forearm."

Toronto's Bianca Andreescu will take Sharapova's wild-card spot in the draw.

Sharapova is making a comeback following a 15-month doping ban.

Several players, including Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, have been critical of Sharapova and tournament organizers for giving her wild card entries. Due to her suspension, she is no longer ranked high enough to automatically qualify for main draws.

She is currently ranked 173rd in the world.

"I am so sorry to be missing Rogers Cup this year," Sharapova said in a statement. "I am so appreciative to the tournament for the wild card and my fans in Toronto for their support. I am disappointed that injury is keeping me from the tennis court once again, and I will work as hard as I can to return to the game I love as soon as possible."

The 30-year-old's best result at the Rogers Cup came in 2009, when she advanced to the final.

Sharapova initially was given a two-year suspension after testing positive for the banned heart drug meldonium at last year's Australian Open.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the ban on appeal, ruling she bore "less than significant fault" in the case and she could not "be considered to be an intentional doper."

Sharapova had been taking meldonium for many years, but overlooked announcements by WADA that it added the drug to its banned list on Jan. 1, 2016.

Canadian Carol Zhao will take Andreescu's spot in the qualifying tournament.