Maria Sharapova to play in Japan in the Pan Pacific Open

Maria Sharapova has confirmed that she will play in the Pan Pacific Open event in January 2007. The former Wimbledon champion will be one of three top-10 Female Players to feature in the Tokyo tournament, which comes off the back of the first Grand Slam event of the season, the Australian Open.

Martina Hingis, seventh in the WTA rankings, and Russia's Elena Dementieva will also feature in the Pan Pacific event, but much of the focus will be on Maria.

Maria Sharapova will go in search of her second Pan Pacific title having claimed victory in 2005 and is likely to start the tournament as favourite. The Japanese tournament starts on January 30, just a couple of days after the conclusion of the Australian Open, in which Maria Sharapova will be hoping to improve on her best finish having reached the semi-final stage in 2005 and 2006.