Sharapova set to return at Indian Wells
Maria Sharapova one of the biggest a attractions in the sport
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Monday, 09, Mar 2009 09:26
Maria Sharapova has confirmed she will make her long-awaited return from injury at the Master Series event in Indian Wells this week.
The former world number one has been out since July last year after suffering a torn rotator cuff tendon in her right shoulder. Sharapova was forced to have surgery and missed the Beijing Olympics, the US Open and the Australian Open at the start of the year.
The 21-year-old was scheduled to return earlier in the year but pulled out of potential comebacks at the Open GDF Suez tournament in Paris and the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.
She will take her first steps back by teaming-up with fellow Russian Elena Vesnina in the doubles at Indian Wells but will not be competing in the singles.
"I am excited to be playing competitive tennis again," Sharapova told her personal website."The healing process takes time, and requires things to move more slowly than I would like, but I am taking things one step at a time.
"I look forward to playing at the BNP Paribas Open, it is definitely one of my favourite tournaments in the world."
Sharapova is a three-time Grand Slam winner, having won Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008. She is also the highest-earning female athlete in the world thanks to her array of lucrative sponsorship contracts.