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Very good job at the MDWCs. Hope to see lots of Americans in the Qualies.BREAKING NEWS
Sharapova to Play Doubles Only at Indian Wells
By Matthew Cronin, ******************** FRIDAY, MARCH 6 - Three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has decided not to play singles at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells next week, but will play doubles with Elena Vesnina at the March 9-22 event in California, ******************** has learned.
Even though Sharapova has been practicing daily at the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida for the past seven weeks, her surgically repaired right shoulder still gets tired after two consecutive days of serving and she and her doctors aren’t convinced that it’s a good idea to push it in singles during the next two weeks.
But if all goes to plan, the L.A. resident will play singles in Miami at the end of the month. Sharapova underwent surgery last October, and hasn’t played since the Canadian Open in early August.
The 21-year-old hasn’t played doubles since mid-2005, but does own three career doubles titles, taking 2004 Birmingham with Maria Kirilenko, and 2003 titles in Tokyo and Luxembourg with Tamarine Tanasugarn. She’s never played with fellow Russian Vesnina. She’s said to be itching to get back into action and thinks that being around the other players – as well as hitting with some of them -- will help ease her transition back on to tour.
The former No. 1’s ranking has dropped to No. 23 and she will drop semifinal points at Indian Wells, the same locale where she first re-injured her shoulder last year in the third round against Alona Bondarenko.
Australian Open comeback queen Jelena Dokic headlines the wildcard entries granted by the tournament. Australian Open mixed doubles champion Sania Mirza, ’07 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Michaella Krajicek, youngsters Urszula Radwanska, and Alja Tomljanovic as well as Americans Vania King, Alexa Glatch and Melanie Oudin also received passes into the main draw. On the men’s side, former top-30 pro Taylor Dent, John Isner, Wayne Odesnik and Ryan Sweeting are Americans who received wild cards, as did South African Kevin Anderson.
