Planet Sport

World number nine Maria Sharapova is confident of being fit enough to defend her Australian Open title next year.

That is despite withdrawing from next month's JB Group Classic in Hong Kong after only recently recovering from a shoulder surgery.

The 21-year-old Russian underwent arthroscopic surgery on October 15 and only started hitting balls just over two weeks ago, forcing her to pull out of the annual exhibition event at Victoria Park, which begins on January 7.

With the Australian Open beginning on January 19 at Melbourne Park, Sharapova could look towards warm-up events in Brisbane, Auckland and Hobart and Sydney.

"I miss competing so much. I am trying to do everything possible to be ready for Australia, but I have promised my doctors, coach and family that I will not rush back," said Sharapova.

"But the great news is that we have taken care of the problem that has been bothering me so much over the last couple of years, and now is the time to get into what I call 'match shape'. I know my shoulder will be 100% by Australia, I just need to see if I have enough tennis training to be ready for that level."

Last year Sharapova used the Hong Kong event as her only preparation for the Australian Open and was expected to follow the same route to Melbourne next month.

"I've been using this event for the last five years to get match fit and ready for the new season; in fact Hong Kong has been successful in preparing me for the Australian Open," she added.

"I'm just not ready to play against the top class competition in Hong Kong, although I remain hopeful for Australia where I'm the defending champion.

"Believe me, it's been a very difficult decision, but I only started practising 16 days ago. I love playing in Hong Kong, and the organisers attract a world class field."

In the new revamped team competition, world number 18 Anna Chakvetadze will replace Sharapova in Team Russia alongside world number seven Vera Zvonareva and 19-year-old Alexandra Panova.

World number one Jelena Jankovic leads the Europe challenge alongside Hungary's Agnes Szavay and Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher De Brito, while Wimbledon champion Venus Williams joins Argentina's Gisela Dulko and compatriot Coco Vandeweghe, the 2008 US Open junior champion, in the Americas team.

Finally, Wimbledon semi-finalist Zheng Jie, Indian number one Sania Mirza and Hong Kong's Zhang Ling make up the Asia Pacific challenge.