2008 Champion Maria Sharapova withdrew from the US Open on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury. The second major player to withdraw hurt after Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
“Maria has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the US Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament,” read a statement from organisers.
“We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year.” The world number three had played only one match since losing in the Wimbledon second round to Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal.
After missing several weeks with a hip problem, she then returned at Cincinnati last week but went out in her first match to American Sloane Stephens.
She also parted ways with coach Jimmy Connors after less than a month.
The 26-year-old has been troubled in the past by a shoulder problem with extensive rehabilitation and time away from tennis.
The absence of the Russian will shake up the seedings, with Agnieszka Radwanska moving up to third seed and the seeded players below each rising one position.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russian becomes the number 32 seed.