TORONTO, Canada (AFP) - World number two Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the WTA Rogers Cup hardcourt event in Toronto next month because of a nagging left hip injury, organisers said on Sunday.

Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Sharapova, a 2009 runner-up at the Canadian event that starts Aug 5, has not played since losing to Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito in the second round at Wimbledon in late June.

"I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to play in Toronto next week as it's one of the best and most important tournaments of the year," Sharapova said.

"I was looking forward to making a healthy return to the courts in front of my Canadian fans but unfortunately I'm just not recovered yet."

That leaves Sharapova only two events, at Cincinnati and New Haven, to use as hardcourt tuneups before the start of the US Open, the year's final Grand Slam tournament.

"Maria is one of the fan favourites here in Toronto and we are certainly going to miss her," tournament director Karl Hale said.