Maria Sharapova still hoping to play for a long time yet on WTA Tour

A disrupted 2019 has not discouraged Maria Sharapova, who is bidding to earn an Australian Open wildcard by playing at the Brisbane International.

Maria Sharapova has made it clear she is planning to play for a long time yet on the WTA Tour as she looks to put a year of frustration behind her.

The Russian confirmed she has accepted a wildcard to take part in the Brisbane International next week and will be looking to play well enough to ensure she is offered the same chance to participate at the upcoming Australian Open.

Sharapova won the Australian Open in 2008, one of her five Grand Slam titles, though it was also the tournament where she tested positive for meldonium in 2016, which led to a ban she has since returned from.

A longstanding shoulder injury has significantly hindered Sharapova’s recent progress.

She had surgery midway through a 2019 season that saw her only manage to play 15 WTA Tour matches, winning just eight and resulting in an official year-end ranking of 136.

But Maria Sharapova still believes she has plenty left to give and will start her season at the Brisbane International in a strong field that also contains Ash Barty, Naomi Osaka and Karolina Pliskova.

She will then hope to make progress in the first major of the year at the Australian Open, much of which will depend on her draw. The 32-year-old was unfortunate in having to face Serena Williams in the first round of the US Open, which proved to be her last competitive appearance in 2019.

“To be fair when I was younger I never saw myself playing past 30,” Maria Sharapova told AAP as she prepared for the new season in Australia.

“But I still feel there is a lot in me to give. I still have a lot of fire in me and I am big competitor.

“As long as the shoulder stays healthy and my body allows me to I hope there is a lot of time left for me.”

Sharapova conceded her shoulder may never feel perfect again but under the circumstances is feeling optimistic as she enters the latter stages of her career.

While there is a host of young talent like Osaka, Bianca Andreescu and Coco Gauff looking to become sport’s next figurehead after the dominance that has been displayed by Serena, having another established star in Sharapova more regularly involved in 2020 would be a positive for women’s tennis.

"“It’s a fresh start after a tough last season,” added Maria Sharapova.“There were a lot of ups and downs, there were times when I was ready but the shoulder wasn’t.“But I have had a fairly good offseason and I am motivated to compete. At this point in my career when I have that feeling, it’s a good sign.”"

Sharapova talked further about her excitement to be playing in Brisbane, an event she won in 2015 by beating Ana Ivanovic in a close final.

Two-time winner Pliskova is defending champion for the WTA Premier event, which is the biggest of three taking place next week, at least in terms of the ranking points available.

Elsewhere, Serena and Caroline Wozniacki are playing the ASB Classic along with the likes of Gauff and Amanda Anisimova, while Belinda Bencic is to be the top seed at the Shenzhen Open.

The results of Maria Sharapova will be closely watched with her bid to reclaim a place among the best in the game being one of many storylines to look out for on the 2020 WTA Tour.