Zvonareva to replace Sharapova in Beijing

Updated at 12:44 a.m. on Friday. Sharapova's website now confirms that she will miss the U.S. Open.

Russia’s Vera Zvonareva (No. 11 in the women's tennis world) will replace the injured Maria Sharapova in the women’s singles of the Olympic tennis tournament, the Russian tennis federation said Friday.

Sharapova (No. 3 in the world) was forced out of the Beijing Games by a shoulder injury suffered on Wednesday night during tournament play in Montreal.

Speaking of Sharapova, the Associated Press is reporting that the tennis star won't be able to play in the U.S. Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.

A U.S. Open official spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Sharapova had yet to publicly announce her withdrawal Friday. (There isn't anything about the U.S. Open on Sharapova's website.)

The Beijing Games begin on Aug. 8. The U.S. Open opens play on Aug. 25. Sharapova won the 2006 U.S. Open.

Photo: Vera Zvonareva playing at the East West Bank Classic tennis tournament in Carson on July 24. Credit: Reed Saxon/Associated Press