Maria Sharapova announced she has undergone a small shoulder procedure and will be out of action for a few weeks.

Maria Sharapova underwent 'a small procedure' on her right shoulder last week and has withdrawn from the Miami Open. The five-time major champion announced the news on her Instagram on Wednesday.

"I have just withdrawn from the Miami Open and wanted to give you a little update on the shoulder," Sharapova wrote on Instagram.

"As many of you know, I have struggled with shoulder pain since last summer. For ten weeks post US Open, I focused on getting my rotator cuff and scapula strong to support a surgically repaired fraying tendon and a small labrum tear. Although my shoulder got strong, it didn't help the pain on impact."

"After a few different opinions in a few different countries, last week I had a small procedure done which will take a few weeks to heal."

"Although this has been a very long process, I am incredibly committed to getting back strong and more importantly without the pain I was playing with at the beginning of the year."

Now ranked No.29, Sharapova has battled with right shoulder issues since undergoing surgery in the summer of 2008. At the Australian Open in January, she told reporters she was still in search of a solution to her ongoing shoulder pain, which she described as a pain management situation.

Struggling with injury, Sharapova has been able to play just three events so far in the 2019 season, having been forced to retire in two of them. After a strong run to the Round of 16 in Melbourne, where she defeated defending champion Caroline Wozniacki before bowing out the Ashleigh Barty in three sets, Sharapova was forced to withdraw mid-tournament from the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy due to her shoulder.

After skipping the Middle East swing, the Russian also announced she would be unable to play the BNP Paribas Open, which begins next week.

Sharapova's next scheduled event is the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, which begins in Stuttgart, Germany on April 22nd.