Sharapova withdraws from Carson semis

Maria Sharapova withdrew 20 minutes before her semifinal match against Nadia Petrova at the East West Bank Classic on Saturday night because of a lower left leg strain.

Sharapova, the top seed, was coming off her first title of the year at last week's Acura Classic near San Diego.

"I can function sitting on my butt and talking, I am fine," she said. "But running around on the tennis court, no."

Sharapova said the injury occurred Saturday afternoon on the practice court.

"I could not lift my foot up on the serve and I could not run to more than two or three balls," she said. "It is just so weird how it came on."

She tried various treatments — deep tissue massage, an ice bath, acupuncture and taking anti-inflammatories — in an attempt to play.

"The doctor has seen these things before and was not optimistic," Sharapova said. "You still try and do everything you can. Based on my experience, you never know, but I hope it is only a couple of days."

Sharapova had already withdrawn from next week's tournament in Toronto.

She went on court and apologized to fans waiting for her match to start at Home Depot Center.

No. 4 seed Petrova, who was 1-5 against Sharapova in her career, reached her first final in seven appearances in Carson.