Sharapova enters San Jose tournament

Maria Sharapova plays in the first round of last year's Bank of the West Classic
at Stanford. She then withdrew with soreness in her left arm. Photo by Mal Taam

   Maria Sharapova hopes her stay in the San Francisco Bay Area this year lasts longer than it did last year.
   The five-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 has entered the inaugural Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, organizers announced today.
   The tournament, scheduled for July 30-Aug. 5 at San Jose State, replaces the longtime Bank of the West Classic at Stanford.
   After winning her first-round match at Stanford last year, the right-handed Sharapova withdrew with soreness in her left arm. That followed a thigh injury in the third tournament of her comeback from a 15-month doping ban.
   Sharapova, who will turn 31 on Thursday, is ranked No. 42. She has played in only three tournaments this year, reaching the third round of the Australian Open and losing in the first round at Doha and Indian Wells. Sharapova withdrew from the Miami Open last month with a left forearm injury.
   Sharapova completed a career Grand Slam by winning the 2012 French Open. She is one of only six women to achieve the feat.
   This will be Sharapova's fifth appearance in the Bay Area tournament. She reached the 2010 final, losing to Victoria Azarenka.
   Sharapova joined 2017 champion Madison Keys and runner-up CoCo Vandeweghe in this year's 28-player field.