Former Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova believes she is finally back to full fitness following her shoulder surgery.
2008 champ confident that shoulder woes are behind her
Former Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova believes she is finally back to full fitness following her shoulder surgery.
Sharapova, who won the title in 2008, was out of action for 10 months after the operation in October the same year and unable to defend her crown in last year's tournament.
Despite returning to action in May last year though the Russian said she has only felt confident of her fitness after an end-of-season programme in the United States.
"(It feels) a lot better," said Sharapova, who faces a glamorous first-round tie against close friend Maria Kirilenko in Melbourne on Monday.
"A lot stronger and I probably have a lot more confidence in it.
"Maybe a few months ago I didn't really know how it would feel on a particular day and now it's a lot more consistent.
"In the off-season I really had the time to go to the gym and spend hours and go out on the court and play and serve buckets of balls without having to worry about time or the amount of balls I hit."
Ominous
The 22-year-old also believes she will now be able to rediscover the power in her serve before she was injured.
"I truly believe that, I think if I didn't I wouldn't be here," she added.
Sharapova's lengthy recovery is in marked contrast to those of Belgian duo Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.
Clijsters, who retired from tennis in May 2007 citing injuries, made a dramatic return to become the first unseeded player and wildcard to win the US Open last September.
Henin began her comeback from a 20-month retirement in ominous fashion before losing to her compatriot in the final of the Brisbane International last week.
And Sharapova, believes that the return of the three, who are all former world number ones, could help make 2010 a memorable year in the women's game.
"I honestly hope this will be one of the most exciting years in women's tennis," she said.
"You have the story of the comebacks and you have the depth of the top 10. There's many possibilities.
"I hope we can create great rivalries between each other and good matches. There's no better way to start than a grand slam."
