Maria back in Japan to defend Pan Pacific Title

Maria Sharapova will defend her title of the Pan Pacific Open tournament to start on Tuesday. Maria won her first career title at the Japan Open in 2003 and took her third title in Tokyo a year ago.

She will play her first match against a qualifier in the top half, which also includes sixth seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, third seed Nathalie Dechy of France and eighth seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Montenegro.