Maria Sharapova Recovering From Shoulder Surgery

ROME -- Maria Sharapova will miss next week's Italian Open and the Madrid Open the following week as she recovers from right shoulder surgery, the WTA Tour announced Tuesday.Sharapova played her first match in seven months on March 12 when she lost in doubles in Indian Wells, Calif.

She was forced off the WTA Tour last August by a torn rotator cuff and underwent surgery on her right shoulder two months later.

The French Open starts May 25.

The former top-ranked Russian has slipped to 64th in the WTA rankings.