Maria Sharapova has been out injured since August 2008

Maria Sharapova has pulled out of next week's Italian Open and the following Madrid Open as her shoulder continues to cause serious concerns.

The three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one has not played a singles match since last August after surgery on her right shoulder.

Sharapova played her first match in seven months on 12 March when she lost a doubles match in Indian Wells.

The Russian has slipped to number 64 in the world rankings.

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