Sharapova 'ready' to seek fourth title

Maria Sharapova says she has recovered from a leg injury and is fit to play at the Porsche Grand Prix where she seeks a fourth straight title this week.

Maria Sharapova and Andre Agassi pose before the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart of Germany April 21, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

"I am doing much better. I have been practising for six or seven days now," the 28-year-old Russian told reporters on Monday. "I hope to work myself into the tournament."

Sharapova is the top seed in a star-studded Stuttgart field with eight top 10 players present. Sharapova aims to rebound in her clay season debut from a modest US hard court season which saw her lose in the second round in Miami and in the last 16 in Indian Wells.

The recent injury kept the second-ranked Sharapova out of last weekend's Fed Cup semi-final against Germany which Russia won 3-2.

She said she was also not sure whether she would play in a final in November against holders Czech Republic because that time is normally her off-season, and she needs to recharge her batteries for 2016 which has the Rio de Janeiro Olympics as an additional highlight next to the regular big events.

"It will be an important and critical decision. I have never been part of the final in Fed Cup before. I will weigh all my options ... but next year is a very big year and I want to be healthy and ready for it," she said.