Russian Maria Sharapova reacts after her quarterfinal match against fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze at the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on June 5, 2007. Sharapova, the number 2 seed, defeated Chakvetadze in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. (UPI Photo/ David Silpa) | License Photo

Russia's Maria Sharapova serves to compatriot Anna Chakvetadze during their semi-final match at the Acura Classic tennis tournament in Carlsbad, California August 4, 2007. (UPI Photo/Earl S. Cryer) | License Photo

Maria Sharapova of Russia watches her shot against Casey Dellacqua of Austria during round two of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York on August 30, 2007. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

Maria Sharapova of Russia plays Casey Dellacqua of Austria during round two of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York on August 30, 2007. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

Maria Sharapova of Russia loses to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during Round Three of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York on September 1, 2007. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

Russia's Maria Sharapova plays a shot during a match with Israel's Shahar Peer in the Fed Cup World Group quarter-finals tennis match in Ramat HaSharon, Israel, February 3, 2008. Sharapova defeated Peer, 6-1, 6-1. (UPI Photo/Debbie Hill) | License Photo

Russian Maria Sharapova hits a serve during her match with Russian Evgeniya Rodina at the French Tennis Open in Paris May 28, 2008. Sharapova survived a first-round scare with a 6-1, 3-6, 8-6 victory. (UPI Photo/ David Silpa) | License Photo

Russian Maria Sharapova waves to the crowd after her second-round match with American Bethanie Mattek at the French Tennis Open in Paris on May 30, 2008. The top-seeded Sharapova defeated Mattek in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, in a match that was completed Friday after being suspended due to darkness the night before. (UPI Photo/ David Silpa) | License Photo

Maria Sharapova shows off the new Canon PowerShot Diamond Collection at the South Street Seaport in New York on August 20, 2008. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

PARIS, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Women's tennis star Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the next two events while continuing her recovery from shoulder surgery, the Sport Express reported.

The former world No. 1 has withdrawn from the Open Gaz de France in Paris and the Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Tennis Championships.


"I am just not near the level I need to be to compete at the highest levels," she said before deciding last month that she would not defend her 2008 title at the Australian Open.

The 23-year-old native of Nyagan, Russia, has not played since August and has fallen to No. 17 in the latest world rankings.

She has won three Grand Slam tournaments and earned more than $12 million since turning pro in April 2001.

Among the events she missed in 2008 due to injury were the Beijing Olympics and the U.S. Open.