The US$3.77 million-event is considered a mandatory event by the WTA, meaning the 20-year-old Russian beauty could face punishment from the tour for skipping the event, which begins next week and runs through April 6.

Tournament officials told the Miami Herald of Sharapova’s decision, which came following a semi-final loss to compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova at the WTA and ATP event in Indian Wells, California, that ended an 18-match win streak.