Maria Sharapova will play doubles only for the third time since 2005 and her new partner will be Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium. The two will team up at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford which starts July 26.

Last two doubles matches Sharapova played were at the 2009 Indian Wells with Elena Vesnina and at the 2005 Birmingham with Maria Kirilenko.

Sharapova has won three doubles titles in her career: the 2004 Birmingham with Maria Kirilenko, and Tokyo and Luxembourgh in 2003 with Tamarine Tanasugarn. Wickmayer still has no Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles titles. As for their ranking, Sharapova is currently unranked in doubles, while Wickmayer is ranked 131st. (photos: Stephane Martinache, © Neal Trousdale)

The annual Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Player Awards were announced in Miami on Wednesday and seven players received the honor for their achievements during 2009.

World No.1 Serena Williams won her third Tour's Player of the Year award and, together with her sister Venus Williams, the Doubles Team of the Year award. In addition, they got the most votes by fans that voted online and have been honored with Fan Favorite Doubles Team of the Year award. Fan Favorite Singles Player for the Year went to the hands of Elena Dementieva.

Most Improved Player was won by Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, while her compatriot Kim Clijsters picked up Comeback Player of the Year award and her seventh Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award, recognizing her conduct, attitude and fair play.

Melanie Oudin is the Newcomer of the Year, while Liezel Huber has been honored by the Player Service Award for the fourth time.

Here you can remind yourselves of the winners for the year 2008.

Additional information: Players voted on their favorite tournaments, and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells came out as the favorite Premier event, while the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL in Acapulco is players' favorite International event. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

I think this complicated case is finally over – Yanina Wickmayer’s ban was suspended by a Belgian court on Monday and now the International Tennis Federation, having consulted the World Anti-Doping Agency, has confirmed that Wickmayer is eligible to start competing.

The world No.16 has a wildcard for ASB Classic in Auckland, and is hoping to get a wildcard to play in the Australian Open. (via Women Who Serve, photo: emmett.hume)

Yanina Wickmayer’s doping ban was suspended on Monday, but the Belgian is not eligible to enter tournaments yet.

The International Tennis Federation still considers the ban active, and it will be so until they "receive further communication to suggest otherwise". They are waiting for an official correspondence from the Belgian anti-doping authorities.

All I can say, too complicated… But I hope everything will be resolved in due time and Wickmayer will be able to make use of her ASB Classic wildcard and compete at the start of the new season. (source: BBC, photo: emmett.hume)

Yanina Wickmayer has had her one-year ban suspended by a Belgian court and her lawyers hope she will be back competing as soon as possible. The world No.16 hopes to receive a wildcard for the 2010 Australian Open.

Wickmayer has, however, already been offered a wildcard for the January 5-10 ASB Classic in New Zealand.

"As our entries have closed the only way she could enter would be via wildcard, and the indication is she wants to play and now we just have to wait for officials to confirm she is allowed to," said ASB Classic tournament director Brenda Perry.

The 20-year-old Wickmayer was suspended in November, for failing to report her whereabouts three times, and thus breaking World Anti-Doping Agency rules. (source: ESPN, photo: emmett.hume)