World No3 Maria Sharapova returns from injury in this week’s Wuhan Open as she starts her build-up to the WTA Finals.
Sharapova last played at Wimbledon, where she lost in the semi-finals to Serena Williams for the 17th time in succession. The Russian subsequently pulled out of a WTA event in Toronto and the Cincinnati Masters hoping to be ready for the US Open, but a persistent leg injury kept her out of that one too.
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The five-time Grand Slam champion only accepted a wild card entry into the Wuhan Open last week, and said it is a “consolation prize for not playing the US Open”.
“Obviously I took a large amount of time to get back to a level where I can come to a tournament, which is very important. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t healthy and ready to compete,” she added.
Sharapova is among a star-studded line-up for the $2.4 million hard court event, which was established on the back of the success of China’s two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na, born and raised in Wuhan.
New stadium court in… #Wuhan pic.twitter.com/hlrQ6Vxdr7
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) September 26, 2015
Sharapova has already booked her place in next month’s WTA Championships in Singapore –which sees the top eight players on tour fight for the final prize of the year. However, the field remains open for all but the world’s top three, and competition at the Wuhan Open is certain to be intense with 18 of the top 20 players attending.
“You can never underestimate an opponent, whether seeded or not. We all know that anyone who is in the draw has been doing really well to be part of this field. There is not an easy match,” Sharapova said.
Williams is sitting out the tournament and US Open winner Flavia Pennetta withdrew at the last minute with a foot injury. But the Italian’s appearance at the Finals could be in jeopardy if any of the players who sit below her in the rankings – Germany’s Angelique Kerber, Czech Karolina Pliskova or Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro and Garbine Muguruza – make it to the quarter-finals or beyond.
