NO. 1 NOT ENOUGH SHARAPOVA MAY WITHDRAW WITH INJURY.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

CARSON - Maria Sharapova will have a large presence at the JPMorgan Chase Open today, her oversized head bouncing up and down all over Home Depot Center for bobblehead giveaway night.

Whether Sharapova, herself, is in the facility is up in the air.

Despite the possibility of taking over the No. 1 ranking in the world with a victory today, Sharapova said Thursday that she is seriously considering pulling out of the tournament because of a strained right pectoral muscle.

``If (today), I go out to the practice court and feel I can't serve without pain, there's no reason for me to play really,'' Sharapova said. ``As much as I want to play, it's more important to be ready for the U.S. Open.''

Unable to serve with her normal velocity and feeling pain with each forehand, Sharapova battled through the injury for a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 third-round victory Thursday over Anna Chakvetadze.

Sharapova was a point away from allowing Chakvetadze to serve for the match at 4-4 and 30-40 in the third set. But Chakvetadze hit a forehand wide, then Sharapova hit an ace and another good serve to coax a wide return by Chakvetadze.

The match seemed headed for a deciding tiebreaker, but Chakvetadze made a critical error at the net, returning a volley right at Sharapova when she could have gone up 30-0 trailing 6-5. Instead, it was 15-15 and, after Chakvetadze hit into the net, Sharapova hit a backhand winner to suddenly have double-match point.

Chakvetadze saved one match point, then Sharapova got up to the net and won on a forehand volley in the left corner.

``I was really upset because I felt I could win this match, but I had a little bad luck,'' said Chakvetadze, who was treated for a left thigh injury midway through the third set. ``Maria's a great fighter. She fight until the end, and that's why she won.''

Sharapova could become the first Russian women's tennis player to be ranked No. 1 in the world.

It would be a special accomplishment for Russian tennis, although her Russian compatriots don't seem too eager to escort her to the milestone.

For the second match in a row, a fellow Russian gave Sharapova all she could handle. In the second round, Maria Kirilenko took Sharapova to a first-set tiebreaker.

Sharapova doesn't seem too concerned about achieving the No. 1 ranking this week. Even if she pulls out, she likely would surpass Lindsay Davenport after next week because Davenport, who is out with a back injury, would lose the points she got from winning in Cincinnati last year.

Sharapova said the pectoral muscle is a reoccurring injury dating to a tournament in Zurich, Switzerland, last October. She aggravated the injury again in preparing for this week's tournament. An MRI Wednesday showed inflammation but nothing torn.

Sharapova is scheduled to face No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, who advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine.

``I always feel terrible pulling out,'' Sharapova said. ``That's not what I'm all about. But if it comes to the point where it can hurt me for the (U.S.) Open, there's no reason thinking about No. 1 or anything else. I need to be ready for the Open. It's a grand slam, and I think that's where you always want to be ready.''

Two fellow Russians joined Sharapova in the quarterfinals. Fourth-seeded Nadia Petrova had an easy time in beating Klara Koukaova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4.

Third-seeded Elena Dementieva had a more difficult time in the night match against Marion Bartoli of France, needing a tiebreaker to win 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Petrova will face 2003 JPMorgan Chase Open champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium, a 6-0, 7-5 winner over Dinara Safina of Russia, in the most compelling quarterfinal matchup at 1 p.m.

Matthew Kredell, [phone]

matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com

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An injury may force Maria Sharapova to withdraw from the JPMorgan Chase Open.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press