This isn’t so sweet.
Maria Sharapova, who contemplated changing her name to “Sugarpova’’ for the U.S. Open, is out of the tournament altogether because of right-shoulder bursitis, the USTA announced Thursday night.
Sharapova, 26 ,plagued by nagging shoulder problems since undergoing rotator cuff surgery five years ago, could be out at least two months. She was the third seed.
The 6-foot Russian had played one match since losing in the second round of Wimbledon after which she reportedly took a cortisone shot. A source told The Post she has had this exact injury since the clay-court season in Rome in May when she also had to withdraw.
After pulling out of two events leading up to the Open, she returned in Cincinnati Aug. 13 and lost her first match to up-and-coming American Sloane Stephens. Sharapova was in pain during practice sessions this week, according to a source.
“Maria has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the US Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament,” U.S. Open tournament director David Brewer said in a statement. “We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year.”
Sharapova wanted to make a splash by changing her surname, partly to hype her “Sugarpova’’ candy line. But the Grand Slam committee needed to approve it and likely would not have.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams, the U.S. Open’s No. 1 seed, will look to defend her crown Monday in Flushing Meadows. She goes for her fifth Open title and 17th Grand Slam title at age 31.
Her father, Richard Williams, predicted Serena would retire young but that prediction looks incorrect as she said she feels like 23 again.
“Right now I feel really confident,’’ Williams told The Post at a Delta ping-pong event at Madison Square Park Thursday. “I feel healthy which is most important. I’m excited to go into the next couple of weeks.
“There’s so much left for me. I obviously want to win another Open, more Grand Slams. I definitely don’t want to stop. I have no idea [when I’d retire]. I honestly feel I’m 23.’’
Williams has won the sixth-most Grand Slams in women’s tennis and needs two to equal legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.