Maria Sharapova will return to Tokyo next January to defend the $1.3 million Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament.

“To all Japanese fans, many thanks for your great support in the Pan Pacific Open 2005. I’m looking forward to coming back to the Pan Pacific Open 2006 as a defending champion,” said Maria in a written message to the organisers.

Tokyo is a good hunting ground for Maria Sharapova, who captured her first WTA singles and doubles titles at the Japan Open in October 2003 and defended it last year. She went on to win the “Tier I” event here one of the 10 biggest tournaments other than the four Grand Slams and the season-ending championship by beating American world number one Lindsay Davenport in the final. Tournament director Toshio Noji said: “Previously in this tournament, the champion eventually became the world number one at the end of each year. Hopefully, Maria will come back to Tokyo as the new world number one.”