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Maria Sharapova sparks retirement speculation

Maria Sharapova prompts retirement speculation by announcing a last-minute press conference to make a "major announcement".

Maria Sharapova has sparked speculation that she may retire after calling a last-minute press conference for a "major announcement".

The 28-year-old - currently ranked world number seven - has been dogged with injuries in the last year and has not competed since she exited the Australian Open at the quarter-final stage in January.

According to her management, Sharapova will address the media at 8pm UK time on Monday in Los Angeles but declined to provide more details about the reason for the press conference.

Speaking last Thursday, the Russian said that she is sad to be missing Indian Wells this year but is "anxious" to return to the tournament in 2017.

Sharapova, who holds a career Grand Slam, has a number of business interests - including a range of sweets named 'Sugarpova' - although the last-minute nature of the announcement means that it is unlikely to be related to her non-tennis ventures.

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Venus Williams of the US poses with her trophy after winning the women's singles final match against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, southern China's Guangdong province on November 8, 2015.
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