Injured Ivanovic + Sharapova win in Montreal, but Maria withdraws with balky shoulder

The injuries on the WTA Tour continue to worsen with the Olympics and US Open right around the corner.

Top seed Ana Ivanovic, who's been dealing with a sore thumb she hurt in practice 10 days ago, struggled in her first match since losing in Wimbledon's third round. The sexy Serb needed three sets to defeat Petra Kvitova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 but refused to blame the injury for her scratchy play:

I went on the court and that means that I felt 100 percent ready to play. Obviously it takes some time to get in a rhythm. But I went through this match. It would probably be the same even if I was feeling 100 percent.

Maria Sharapova survived her opening round match then quickly withdrew from the Rogers Cup citing her lingering right shoulder injury and seriously jeopardizing her chances to compete in Beijing. The 21-year old was made to fight throughout her tight 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 win against Marta Domachowska, even calling the trainer in the second set.

During the presser announcing her withdrawal Shrieka told the media,

It's obviously unfortunate. You try to do every little possible thing you can. But at the end of the day when you go on court and you're thinking about aggravating things, you're thinking about an injury, it's not really the way to play.

It's tough to go on court and not be close to even 50 per cent. I'm too good of a player to go out there and try to fight through something that can eventually become something serious.

After yesterday's post concerning the WTA's new Roadmap 2010, I give full credit to both lady ballers for flying to Montreal and playing through injuries.

But you have to think the Russian's chances of salvaging the rest of her season are in doubt. No serve, no wins. Ana, well, she's still sitting pretty at the top...for now.

(images via Forty Deuce + Getty)