Sharapova could return in Jan.

MOSCOW — Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova, banned in June for two years for doping offenses, may be allowed to return in January, according to Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) president Shamil Tarpishchev. “Everything will be decided in September. It is impossible to say for certain but I think she will start playing again by January,” Tarpishchev was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency Monday. Former world No. 1 Sharapova, 29, was suspended following a positive test for the banned drug meldonium during January’s Australian Open. In July, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said a ruling on her case would be held on Sept. 19. Puig pulls out of Cincinnati Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig withdrew Sunday from the ATP-WTA Tour Cincinnati Masters with lower back pain. The Puerto Rican made history for her island nation by winning the country’s first-ever gold medal with her 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 defeat of German Angelique Kerber in the Saturday women’s final. Andy Murray became the first man to defend and Olympic tennis gold medal as he beat Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a four-hour final on Sunday. Murray had originally been scheduled to share a private jet overnight from Rio to Cincinnati with Rafael Nadal, the BBC reported. Murray owns two titles at the midwest venue from 2008 and 2011; Nadal won it in 2013. But No. 2 Murray changed his plans after his Olympic success: “I was planning to travel tonight, but I think I’ll stay around and celebrate,” the Scot said in his post-match interview. Del Potro, still ranked 141 after nearly two years of wrist surgeries and recovery, is not ranked high enough for entry into the Cincinnati field, with his camp now hoping he will be given a US Open wild card. Puig, ranked 34th, was unseeded at the Cincinnati tournament, the last major tune-up prior to the start of the US Open on August 29. The pullout came less than 24 hours after her Rio success. On Saturday, bronze medalist Petra Kvitova withdrew with an injury. Sunday rain made a hash of qualifying rounds, with one of two men’s ATP first-round matches canceled as play was interrupted in the afternoon by weather, resuming as evening fell. Alexandr Dolgopolov, who reached the semifinal a year ago from a qualifying start, was to have faced South African Kevin Anderson in a match wiped out for the day. Serena tries to hold onto No. 1 Defending champion Serena Williams initially opted to skip Cincinnati, figuring she’d be just finishing up in Rio de Janeiro. An early upset changed her plans and got her back in the Western & Southern Open with more than just another trophy at stake. Her No. 1 ranking is on the line, too. Williams’ attempt to hold onto the top spot will be one of the main intrigues in the tournament.