Maria Sharapova has announced her return to singles action after an eight-month injury layoff in the Warsaw WTA tournament starting on May 18.

The former world No.1 and highest money-earner in women's sport has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since last summer missing last year's Wimbledon and US Opens as well as this year's Australian Open.

She has repeatedly postponed her comeback over the past few weeks but did play one losing game in the doubles tournament at Indian Wells in March.

"I am very happy to report that I will make my singles return to the tour in Warsaw, Poland, the week of May 18," the 22-year-old Russian said on her website www.mariasharapova.com

"Although it has not been an easy process these last few months, I really believe it's made me a much stronger person in so many areas of my life professionally and personally.

"There are so many things you learn while you are limited to something you love doing.

"One of those things is patience, not my best virtue, but certainly one of my better ones now."

In her absence, Sharapova has slumped to 65th in the WTA rankings but enjoys from the WTA a special injury ranking of four which she can use for acceptance into tour events.

She has eight tournaments to use her protected ranking including one Grand Slam event.

A successful return at Warsaw will clear the way for Sharapova to take part in the French Open, which gets underway in Paris on May 24.

(AFP via China Daily May 13, 2009)