Sharapova won't give Aussies much to see

Forgive the folks Down Under for feeling a bit left out. News that Maria Sharapova will play only the Australian Open and no other tournaments on the country's summer circuit cannot be considered good for fans and/or promoters.
Because Maria does not turn 18 until April 19, she still is subject to WTA rules that limit her to 22 events. She already has played in 15 and is looking for larger tournaments to post as many points as possible to try to rise in the rankings.

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There had been speculation the Wimbledon winner might enter the Medibank Private Internation (Jan. 9-15) in Sydney where nine of the top 12 ranked women are to compete in the last tourney before the Aussie Open. "Just didn't fit into her schedule,'' Sharapova's agent Max Eisenbud told Australian media. Instead, Maria will play an exhibition in Hong Kong the first week in January and practice in Melbourne the next.