Bets on When Sharapova Will Retire Have Reopened

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Maria Sharapova has been out of action for long stretches in 2019. Her lingering injuries, lack of consistency and 2020 schedule sparked suspicions over her career. Some bookmakers even take bets on when Sharapova will retire, and their predictions don’t seem any reassuring.

Maria Sharapova is one of the iconic names on the WTA tour. She used to be at the top of the tennis world, a force on and off the court. However, the failed drug test from the 2016 Australian Open took a toll on her career, earning her a two-year ban from competitive tennis. Later the suspension was reduced from 24 to 15 months, but it has done the damage. Returning to the tour, the Russian tennis ace started dropping in rankings and withdrawing from tournaments due to her injuries. Her career looks to be on its last legs and online sportsbook sites in the US hold a similar opinion.

What sparked retirement reports?

Maria made a comeback in April 2017, and she seemed back on her wave, but the season wasn’t easy. Her journey was plagued with injuries and rejections from tournament organizers. Regardless, Sharapova managed to win a WTA title and climb the rankings into the top 60.

Her 2018 run was a roller-coaster of successful performances, new injuries, and string of withdrawals. Yet her ranking status picked up, bringing Maria back into the top 30. It was her 2019 campaign that fueled retirement rumors in online sportsbook new in the US.

The former world No 1 started the season considerably well, but the lingering shoulder problem made her undergo surgery. As a result, she missed numerous important events. Sharapova returned on grass-court season only to suffer a defeat after a defeat. Serena Williams became the one to put an end to her run in the opening round of the US Open. Overall, she competed at eight events and 15 matches and 1xBET Sportsbook tipsters see that as an indication of impending retirement.

Is 2020 when Sharapova will retire?

At the age of 32, questions are mounting about how much longer the five-time Grand Slam champion will continue for. Especially if her shoulder problems continue to hinder her performance. That, however, is only one of the reasons feeding the retirement rumors.

Currently ranked 131, Maria is unsure what her 2020 calendar will look like, but she has started reducing her schedule. The Olympic medalist recently announced that she will miss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to take part in Orange County Breakers. This majorly triggered the retirement speculations. The bookies slashed the odds to 1.665, as the tennis world is anticipating her announcement as early as next year.

Opposed to that, Sharapova denied retirement plans on many occasions. She maintains a positive outlook on her career, despite the injuries and temporary misfortune. The Russian athlete draws inspiration from Rafael Nadal, whose bouncebackability has stunned the world more than once.

She will probably lighten her schedule to reduce the pressure on her body and increase chances at winning tournaments. That is a standard strategy for the injury-prone players above 30. If you still plan to bet on when Sharapova will retire, make sure to check our latest review about 1xBET Sportsbook.

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