THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Maria Sharapova is returning to the WTA Tour this week for the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., the three-time major champion announced on her website.
After missing the past two Grand Slam tournaments with a right shoulder injury -- last year's U.S. Open and this year's Australian Open -- Sharapova also pulled out of an indoor event in Paris and a hard-court tournament in Dubai.
"I am excited to be playing competitive tennis again," Sharapova wrote on her website. "The healing process takes time, and requires things to move more slowly than I would like, but I am taking things one step at a time. I look forward to playing at the BNP Paribas Open, it is definitely one of my favourite tournaments in the world."
Sharapova, who has won Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, will play in the doubles draw at Indian Wells -- her first doubles action in four years -- in addition to singles. She will team with fellow Russian Elena Vesnina.
The joint ATP-WTA-sanctioned BNP Paribas Open begins Wednesday.
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