Sharapova to grin and bear it at Australian Open

MELBOURNE – World number four Maria Sharapova is prepared to play in pain at next week’s Australian Open.

The glamorous Russian has been in doubt of playing in Melbourne after injury marred the second half of last season and forced her out of last week’s Australian Hardcourt event on the Gold Coast. Sharapova arrived in Melbourne unsure whether she would be fit enough to play the year’s opening grand slam tournament.She said doctors had identified that her problem stemmed from a dislocated rib and not a pectoral muscle problem.”It’s not 100 percent.I wouldn’t say it’s at the top level.But at least I know the cause of the problem,” Sharapova told reporters here Thursday.”The good thing is, the doctors have told me it can’t get any worse.”As long as I know I can’t hurt it any more, I’m going to have to suck it up and do the best I can.”It can bother me, it can get tight, but I’m going to go through the pain and do everything I can to win.”Sharapova broke through as a 17-year-old, winning Wimbledon in 2004 by beating Serena Williams in the final.She made the semi-finals of the Australia and US Opens and Wimbledon last year and is one of the strong contenders for this year’s Australian title if she can get through the first week.”I think I need a few matches to prepare,” she said.”I’m not going to be playing my best in the first round, but I’m sure gradually as I go, I’m sure my form will come back to normal.”- Nampa-AFPSharapova arrived in Melbourne unsure whether she would be fit enough to play the year’s opening grand slam tournament.She said doctors had identified that her problem stemmed from a dislocated rib and not a pectoral muscle problem.”It’s not 100 percent.I wouldn’t say it’s at the top level.But at least I know the cause of the problem,” Sharapova told reporters here Thursday.”The good thing is, the doctors have told me it can’t get any worse.”As long as I know I can’t hurt it any more, I’m going to have to suck it up and do the best I can.”It can bother me, it can get tight, but I’m going to go through the pain and do everything I can to win.”Sharapova broke through as a 17-year-old, winning Wimbledon in 2004 by beating Serena Williams in the final.She made the semi-finals of the Australia and US Opens and Wimbledon last year and is one of the strong contenders for this year’s Australian title if she can get through the first week.”I think I need a few matches to prepare,” she said.”I’m not going to be playing my best in the first round, but I’m sure gradually as I go, I’m sure my form will come back to normal.”- Nampa-AFP