Maria Sharapova has called a press conference scheduled for Monday night in which she will make a “major announcement” according to her management, fuelling speculation that she could be about to retire from professional tennis due to the string of injuries she has suffered in recent years.

Sharapova has struggled throughout 2016 with an injury to her left forearm which hampered her campaign at the Australian Open in January, where she made a quarter-final exit at the hands of Serena Williams.

Sharapova has not competed since then, and was forced to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in California later this month having not recovered.

Maria Sharapova's career defining moments Show all 25 1 /25 Maria Sharapova's career defining moments Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 19 April 2001 Makes professional debut at the age of 14 2001 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 14 January 2003 Makes Grand Slam debut at Australian Open 2003 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 3 July 2004 Wins first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon at age of 17 2004 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 22 August 2005 Ranked world No 1 for the first time 2005 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments March 2006 Forbes names Sharapova the highest-paid female athlete in the world 2006 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 10 September 2006 Wins the US Open by beating Justine Henin 2006 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 27 January 2008 Wins the Australian Open without dropping a set 2008 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments August 2008 Long-standing shoulder injury requires surgery, forcing Sharapova to miss the 2008 Olympics 2010 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 14 January 2010 Launches the Nike Maria Sharapova Collection after the success of the 'Little Black Dress' from the 2006 US Open. 2006 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments January 2011 Splits with coach Michael Joyce, appoints Thomas Hogstedt 2009 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments January 2012 Ends engagement to Slovenian professional basketball player Sasha Vujacic after three-year relationship BURAK KARA Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 10 June 2012 Completes career Grand Slam after winning the French Open 2012 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments June 2012 Named the 15th highest-paid athlete in the world by Forbes 2012 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 5 August 2012 Wins Olympic silver medal at London 2012 after losing to Serena Williams in final 2012 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 11 January 2013 Global launch of Sugarpova sweets line alongside Jeff Rubin 2013 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments September 2013 Considers changing her name to Maria Sugarpova for the US Open but decides against it 2013 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments September 2013 Third shoulder injury ends her season prematurely 2013 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 7 June 2014 Wins second French Open title by defeating Simona Halep 2014 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments July 2015 Splits up with boyfriend and fellow tennis professional Grigor Dimitrov 2014 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 26 January 2016 Knocked out in Australian Open quarter-finals by Serena Williams and doesn’t play again due to injury 2016 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments February 2016 Announces deal to make Sugarpova Premium Chocolates with Polish company Baron Chocolatier to be released in May this year Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 7 February 2016 Sharapova reveals she has failed a drug test after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium, with the ITF provisionally suspending her from 12 March. 2016 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 8 June 2016 Sharapova is given a two-year ban by the ITF for her positive drugs test. AFP/Getty Maria Sharapova's career defining moments October 2016 Sharapova's ban is reduced from two years to 15 months on appeal. Getty Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 26 April 2017 After serving her ban, Sharapova made her return to professional tennis at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, defeating Roberta Vinci. Getty

It’s believed that the 28-year-old could announce her retirement from the sport when she speaks at 8pm GMT Monday after a number of injuries have prevented her from playing regularly for several years, and she has only played in three events in the last eight months.

Sharapova has also developed a flourishing business model off the court, but while the press conference could yet prove to be her latest business venture, they are rarely billed as “major announcements” by her own team.

Speaking earlier this week, Sharapova said of her withdrawal from Indian Wells: “I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to compete in this year’s BNP Paribas Open.

“I have been focused on healing my left forearm injury and tried to get my body to be 100% ready to play this event, as it is one of my favourite events on the WTA and so close to my home in LA.”

However, the Russian did not hint at any sudden decision to end her career prematurely, and should she make such an announcement on Monday, the news would come as a huge shock to the sport.

Maria Sharapova will make a 'major announcement' on Monday night (Getty Images)

Sharapova is one of the most recognisable names in women’s sport after she burst onto the scene by winning her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of just 17, becoming the third youngest Wimbledon winner after Lottie Dod and Martina Hingis.

Sharapova on tennis equality

High expectations immediately followed her teenage success, but she would have to wait two years before adding second Grand Slam success when she triumphed at the US Open in 2006, adding the Australian Open crown to her CV in 2008.