November 25, 2008, WASHINGTON, US – After being sidelined from playing since July of this year, Maria Sharapova’s agent has announced that Sharapova is set to be back early 2009, ready to defend her Australian Open title.
Max Eisenbud, Sharapova’s agent, has opened up to The Associated Press that his player is making progress and is set to make her return to the courts during the Jan. 7-10 exhibition held in Hong Kong. This is an event which she usually enters, and it would be quite normal for her to make her comeback by then.
The Grand Slam winner plans to make her appearance and then head off to participate in the Australian Open. The said tournament is set to kickoff in Jan. 19 at Melbourne, Australia.
Sharapova has failed to play competitively as of late especially since the event where she pulled out of the game. During the competition, and after reaching victory after a match that lasted three hours, Sharapova withdrew from the whole tournament after a trainer examined her shoulder.
Tests that were conducted on the 21-year-old came out with a torn rotator cuff tendon on Sharapova’s shoulder.
While Sharapova has reached the top spot this year, due to her time away for recovery, her standing has dropped and she ended the season at No. 9.