Maria Sharapova's 2009 debut after shoulder surgery ended in a down note when the Russian lost first round in doubles-only play in
Indian Wells, falling with countrywoman
Elena Vesnina 6-2, 4-6, 10-7 to
Ekaterina Makarova and
Tatiana Poutchek at the BNP Paribas Open. Sharapova's shoulder is still dodgy after rotator cuff surgery. "It feels very good to be back," the 24-year-old Russian said.
"I just wanted to test (the shoulder) out. I started training a couple of months ago. I just wanted to...test it out in a match situation and get a little different scenery than the practice court and play in front of the crowd, so that was exciting...Right now I'm able to do maybe three days or four days and then I have to take it easy on the fifth."
Canadian Press (3/13).
