Injured Sharapova confident of being fit for French Open

ROME (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova will be fit for the French Open despite pulling out of Saturday's Italian Open semi-final against Jelena Jankovic with a calf injury, the Russian said on Saturday.

"They just said it's a strain. I need maybe two or three days off before I can test it out again, that's the diagnosis," Sharapova told a news conference.

"I hope in two days I'll be able to be on court and be normal."

The Australian Open champion said she felt the injury to her left calf in the second set of Friday's quarter-final victory over Swiss Patty Schnyder.

"Last night consisted of about two and a half to three hours of treatment," added the Russian who will become world number one next week after Belgian Justine Henin retired from tennis on Wednesday.

"I think it was the smart decision and the best at this point, especially with a big tournament coming up. I'm sorry for my fans and the people that came here to watch me play and I hope to make it up to them soon.

"When I stepped on my foot today I knew there was no chance I'd be able to go on court."

However the Russian said she might have tried to play if she had suffered the same problem at a major: "Last year I basically played without a shoulder (at the French Open) and I got to the semi-final.

"At a grand slam stage you are going to do whatever it takes. If it means taking a few extra painkillers then definitely. But a week before a slam it's quite difficult to take your body to that phase."  Continued...