Sharapova said her decision to bypass lucrative exhibition tournaments in Australia to play in the ASB Classic in New Zealand from today underscored her determination to lift her world ranking.
The 25-year-old Russian, ranked 18, will vie with compatriots Dinara Safina and Svetlana Kuznetsova and defending champion Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium in her first WTA tournament in three months.
“I have come back from an awful lot, something that could have taken me away from the game. I see myself back on the court, training and getting better and I look at that as a positive.
“Now I have to take that onto the court and build on it little by little.
“If I am able to win a Grand Slam after my injury, it would be my greatest achievement in my career.”
