Maria to play through shoulder pain

Maria Sharapova says she will battle through the pain of a long-standing shoulder injury when the Australian Open begins next Monday.

The Russian former Wimbledon champion, who withdrew from last week's Australian hardcourt championships on the Gold Coast because of the injury, said her doctors had advised her it would not get any worse by playing the year's first grand slam.

"I wouldn't say it's at 100 per cent, but the good thing is a month back I found out the cause of the problem," Sharapova told reporters at a sponsors' promotional event on Thursday.

"Doctors tell me it can't get any worse and I can keep playing.

"I'll have to suck it up and just try to do the best I can.

"It can bother me, it can get tight, but I'm going to go through the pain and do everything I can to win."

The 18-year-old Russian, who lost to eventual champion Serena Williams in the semi-finals last year, was seeded fourth for the tournament on Thursday.