Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams were big-name withdrawals from the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati yesterday as they attempt to fully recover from injury and illness ahead of the US Open.

Russian second seed Sharapova, who has yet to play since a semi-final defeat at Wimbledon last month, cited a leg injury for her exit.

Williams was forced to pull out due to a viral illness, something that had bothered her in Monday’s victory over Zarina Diyas, denying fans an attractive second round encounter between the American and former number one Ana Ivanovic.

The US Open begins on August 31.

On the court, Swiss prospect Belinda Bencic continued her brilliant run of form with a 7-5 6-3 first-round victory over Germany’s Angelique Kerber.

Bencic, who shocked world number one Serena Williams in the semi-finals of last week’s Rogers Cup before going on to clinch the title, fended off attempted comebacks by the 11th-seeded Kerber in both sets before sealing victory in 90 minutes.

Though Kerber clawed back from 5-1 down in the opening set and 3-1 in the second, she ultimately paid the price for a whopping 48 unforced errors and seven double faults.

Bencic will next face Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, who beat Dominika Cibulkova, of Slovakia, 7-5 6-2 in the opening round.