Maria Sharapova said on Sunday she has “expectations” for herself ahead of her return from a five-month injury absence in Mallorca next week.
The five-time Grand Slam champion has not played since withdrawing from the St. Petersburg event in January to have surgery on a long-standing shoulder injury.
Sharapova has struggled to find top form since coming back from a 15-month doping ban in 2017. “When you go out in a tournament, anything can happen,” the 32-year-old told wtatennis.com.
“You want to go out on the court and you want to show the type of tennis you think you can produce. I certainly have expectations for myself... And I enjoy getting better every day. The injuries are very frustrating... But then the next day, you start feeling better.
“The next day, you get better and you get a little more optimistic. A few months later, even though it’s a long process, here you are and you’re excited to compete again,” she said.
Sharapova will face Slovakia's Viktoria Kuzmova in the first round of the grass-court Wimbledon warm-up event, and could play three-time Grand Slam title winner Angelique Kerber in round two.
Sharapova has slipped to 86th from 29th in the rankings during her lay-off.