UPDATE 2-Tennis-Sharapova lambasts WTA over publicity shoot

"I want people to understand that I took this action because this is one in a long list of things that the tour has ignored the players. This is not about just one shoot, I could not just sit back anymore."

FLEXIBILITY

The WTA said Sharapova had the option of doing a two-and-a-half hour shoot, allowing for transport time.

"We will be as flexible as possible to accommodate all the player schedules, but we are not making exceptions," said WTA spokesman Andrew Walker.

The WTA was working to raise the profile of the players, something their agents had been striving for, he added.

"This is an opportunity to do it as we are putting millions of dollars into this worldwide campaign. It's important for women's tennis and while we are sensitive to the demands of the tournament on our players, they've known about it for some time.

"It's in the rules." (Additional reporting by Pritha Sarkar; Editing by Peter Rutherford)