Maria Sharapova will make her first return to the WTA Tour this week after her Australian Open success with predictions that she will soon take the world #1 position away from Justine Henin.

Maria lost only 32 games in 14 sets and seven matches in succeeding in Melbourne last month, including a quarter-final dismantling of Henin, who yesterday won the Antwerp Diamond Games. Maria is now hoping to try and realise predictions that she can move to the top of the women’s world rankings, by overtaking Henin and dominating the game over the next few years.

Henin is not in Doha, which gives Maria the opportunity to close the gap on her. However, the tournament will not be a walkover with the potential for an Australian open final rematch against Serbs Ana Ivanovic and also Jelena Jankovic, the world #3, and possibly Venus Williams and Amélie Mauresmo.