MARIA Sharapova is furious.

Not at an umpire.

Not even at an opponent.

The world No. 3 is up in arms and in direct confrontation with the ruling body of women's tennis - the WTA.

The Russian bombshell, renowned for her beauty as well as her tennis, is upset that the WTA is placing unfair demands on the top players ahead of this month's Italian Open in Rome.

The Australian Open champion saw red after being threatened with a US$300,000 ($410,000) fine if she does not participate in a publicity event before the event.

'I want all my fans to know that the WTA Tour is forcing me and several of the other top players to do a four-hour commercial shoot for WTA Tour marketing materials,' Sharapova told her website.

'They want me to do this shoot on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of the Rome tournament after flying 12 hours from Los Angeles.

'I have set my own personal rules when it comes to doing photo shoots and I never do shoots before tournaments because they are mentally draining and I want to just focus on my tennis.

'Now the WTA is telling me if I don't do this shoot they will fine me over US$300,000. As you can see the WTA Tour loves to fine players.

NOT RIGHT

'To be honest, I would love to do this and help promote the Tour as much as possible, but to force me to do this shoot the day before a Tier One tournament is not right.'

The 21-year-old will be returning to action in the event starting 12 May after skipping Russia's Federation Cup semi-final against the United States last weekend.

She was beaten by Serena Williams in the quarter-finals of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston in her last outing two weeks ago.

She also issued a statement to explain her absence from the German Open in Berlin starting tomorrow.

'The WTA Tour makes many players enter tournaments that they know the players will not be playing,' she told her website.

'I informed the WTA several months ago that if I played Charleston, I would have to pull out of Berlin.

'Now they're forcing me to give an injury for the reason why I'm pulling out or they will give me an additional fine on top of the US$125,000 fine already given.

'I am a very giving person but I refuse to give any more of my money to the WTA Tour.

'So I want everyone to know that apart from getting sick the past few days, I am healthy and I am looking forward to playing in Rome.'

- Wire Services.