ROME: Maria Sharapova has retired from her Italian Open match against Marjana Lucic-Baroni citing an apparent left thigh injury.
Sharapova was leading 4-6, 6-3, 2-1 when she called it quits after Lucic-Baroni held serve.
Sharapova had left the court for an injury timeout during the second game of the third set. She came back with her left thigh taped.
The retirement came 2 1/2 hours after French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli announced he would not award Sharapova a wild card for the French Open because of her doping ban.
Sharapova returned last month following a 15-month ban for testing positive for the banned heart drug meldonium at last year's Australian Open.
The Russian has used wild cards to enter all three of her tournaments since her return.