Maria Sharapova’s return to competitive tennis is progressing very well, as the Russian comfortably defeated Darya Kustova of Belarus 6-2 6-0 to win the second singles match she played after the nine-month injury layoff and reach the quarterfinals of the Warsaw Open.

The 22-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion showed signs of her glory, playing much more consistently than in the first-round three-setter against Italy's Tathiana Garbin.

Sharapova will next have a stiffer test, as she’ll fight eighth seed Alona Bondarenko for a place in the semifinals of the Warsaw Open.

Additional info: Sharapova is expected to play Roland Garros, and then to continue her comeback at the June 8-14 AEGON Classic in Birmingham, which will be her preparation for grasscourt Wimbledon. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Today at Warsaw Open, Maria Sharapova was playing her first singles match since August 2008 and the much-missed three-time Grand Slam champion won 6-1 6-7(6) 6-3 against Tathiana Garbin of Italy.

The 22-year-old Russian has seen her world ranking slump to No.126 during her absence because of a shoulder injury. It wasn't too encouraging, but even today she wore a criss-crossed bandage on her right shoulder.

Sharapova secured her place in the second round of the claycourt tournament despite being taken to the deciding set. Wild card Sharapova looked well on her way to win the match, having four match points at 5-3 and 40-0 in the ninth game of the second set, but she allowed the 68th-ranked Garbin to extend the set and take the tiebreak 8-6. However, Sharapova had energy left and even came back from 3-1 down in the decider to eventually seal victory.

Sharapova’s opponent in the second round of the Warsaw Open was expected to be top seed Caroline Wozniacki, but the Dane has withdrawn today with back injury.

"I really wanted to play here in Warsaw. I know I have a lot of polish fans but I have had this back injury for two weeks," said Wozniacki. "The physiotherapist told me that if I want to be able to accomplish anything at the French Open I have to take a break so that my condition does not get any worse."

Sharapova’s next opponent will be one of the lucky losers: either Lenka Tvaroskova or Darya Kustova.

By the way, as always with Maria, we have to mention her outfit. I like this one, too. The color reminds me of spring and summer fruits and ice-cream. The design is also cute. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

As you know, Maria Sharapova is making her long-awaited comeback from shoulder injury at the May 18-23 Warsaw Open. It’s cute to see the Russian so determined that she’s even training in rain.

Sharapova will play her first competitive singles match since last August. She played doubles with Elena Vesnina at this year’s Indian Wells, but lost in the opening round already.

In the first round of the Warsaw Open, wild card Maria Sharapova will face Tathiana Garbin. Should she beat Garbin, in the second round she will probably play top seed Caroline Wozniacki, runner-up today at Madrid Open. (photos via Warsaw Open)

Maria Sharapova announced on her website that we’ll finally see her play competitively, and this time in singles, unlike her brief return in March. The Russian has received a wildcard and will compete at next week’s Warsaw Open.

Here’s what Sharapova, who has fallen to No.65 in the rankings, said about her comeback and how she's been spending her time:

I am very happy to report that I will make my singles return to the tour in Warsaw Poland, the week of May 18. Although it has not been an easy process these last few months, I really believe it's made me a much stronger person in so many areas of my life professionally and personally […] I have been training quite a lot in Florida and as you may well know, there's not much to do here except train and cook. My cooking abilities have certainly risen in the last few months, and I actually find it quite therapeutic.

(photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Maria Sharapova is about to skip two more tournaments, failing to recover from the infamous shoulder injury.

The WTA said in a statement that the Russian has pulled out from next month’s clay-court tournaments Internazionali BNL d’Italia and Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open.

Sharapova hasn’t played a singles match since last August, while she made a brief return to competitive tennis at Indian Wells last month, playing doubles.

I have to say I kind of expected it. All her statements about the comeback have been somewhat vague. (source: Reuters, photo: Ralf Reinecke)