Sharapova to make comeback in Moscow next week

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Moscow, Oct 5: Maria Sharapova has recovered from a shoulder injury and will make her comeback at next week's Kremlin Cup, tournament organisers said today.

The world number four has not played since her shock defeat by Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round of the US Open two months ago.

''Maria has asked for a wildcard and she's got one,'' Kremlin Cup executive director Alexander Katsnelson told Reuters.

Last week Sharapova said that she would not play again until the season-ending championships in Madrid at the earliest, but Katsnelson said the Florida-based Russian has changed her mind and was eager to play in Moscow.

''She said she's feeling fine and is ready to play,'' he said.

It will be Sharapova's third consecutive year playing in Moscow, with the previous two ending in disappointment.

She was forced to pull out of the indoor tournament with a foot injury last year and was beaten by compatriot Dinara Safina in the quarter-finals in 2005.

Two other former world number ones, Serena Williams and Marat Safin, also received wildcards into the combined 2.3 million dollars tournament, which starts on Monday.

Safin will also make his return following a two-month layoff.

Reuters>