Saturday 16 January 2016 10:36, UK
Maria Sharapova insists she is not worried about a lack of match practice going into the Australian Open after an injury-hit start to the year.
The fifth-seeded Russian will be attempting to win her first title at Melbourne Park since 2008. She has been plagued by injury since July, after she lost in the Wimbledon semi-finals to Serena Williams.
She pulled out of the season-opening Brisbane International with a left forearm problem but she says she will be raring to go when the first Grand Slam of the year gets under way on Monday.
"I feel really good, I got to Melbourne earlier than I wanted to. But it gave me a chance to practice here this week. Had great days on a lot of the courts," she said.
Despite not playing a match this year, she said she was experienced enough to make the best use of her time on the practice courts to compensate.
"You can't replicate what you do out on the court when you're playing a match in front of thousands of people, there's nothing like it, you can never compare it," she said.
"But I've always been someone that's been able to treat their practice as something meaningful, there's something on the line, you're not just going through the motions.
"That's one of the reasons I believe in myself knowing, okay, I may not have played five matches in Brisbane, but if I commit myself, train well, get some practice sets in, I know with that mindset I'll be able to take it.
"Yes, I might be rusty, make a few more unforced errors than I would like, but I'm ready to go."
Sharapova opens her campaign against Japan's Nao Hibino with a potential quarter-final against her nemesis Williams, who beat her in the final last year and has won every match they have played since 2004.
But the Russian said she was not looking beyond her first-round clash.
"I can't look too far ahead of myself. I haven't played for a few weeks," she said. "I have to keep my expectations quite low and just work my way, work my game, work my mindset through this draw."
We will bring you all the news, views and reaction from the Australian Open starting on Monday 18th January.
