Maria Sharapova’s iffy right shoulder is still keeping her from returning competitively in the tennis circuit, and her timetable of recovery remains unclear following two more skipped events this month. Maria has begged for time off from the Open GDF SUEZ tournament in Paris this week, plus next week’s Barclays Championships event in Dubai.

That puts Sharapova on the radar at the BNP Paribas Open at the earliest. The Indian Wells, California event is scheduled from March 11-22. But the three-time Grand Slam champion said in her Web site that she is looking forward to the Sony Ericsson Open on March 25 set in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Sharapova has yet to play in a tournament this year after injuring her shoulder in July. She has skipped the U.S. Open and the Australian Open last month. Finishing 2008 as world no. 9, Sharapova won the 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 U.S. Open and 2008 Australian Open titles.