Maria Sharapova returned after a two-week break with a straight-sets win over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic at Amelia Island.

The Russian pulled out of last week's Sony Ericsson Open with a shoulder injury, but admitted at the time that her heavy schedule was taking its toll.
However, Sharapova showed no ill effects in her first clay match of 2008 as she beat Strycova 6-1 6-3.

Maria Sharapova has committed to play in the Bausch & Lomb Championships for the first time, tournament officials announced Thursday.

The Russian star, who is currently ranked fifth in the world, will make her debut at Amelia Island Plantation on April 7-13 as the tournament's No. 1 seed.

"Maria is an absolute global superstar," tournament director John Arrix said. "It is really exciting for us to bring her to an event that is quaint and small but has so much history."

While tennis fans clamored for a spot at the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami to see the pros play, it was the virtual court action that added a new twist to the festivities. 2K Sports hosted a special event on March 26th in which the hottest tennis sensations, including Maria Sharapova and James Blake, played Top Spin 3, the highly anticipated video game featuring their likenesses.

The Sony Ericsson Open lost one of its major stars on Saturday morning when Maria Sharapova announced she is withdrawing from the Key Biscayne tournament because of fatigue.

Sharapova, who has dominated the tour since winning the Australian Open in January, had her 18-match win streak broken by Svetlana Kuznetsova Friday night in the Indian Wells semifinals, and Sharapova told reporters afterwards that she was considering taking a break and skipping the Sony Ericsson Open, which begins Wednesday. She advised tournament officials of her decision early Saturday morning.

Didn't seem like you out there, Maria. She played well, but you looked a little slow, late to the ball, all that.

MARIA SHARAPOVA:
That's pretty much right. You can keep talking. I'm sure it will be correct.

She did a good job dictating with her forehand, she served pretty well. But with you, you never seemed to get any rhythm.

MARIA SHARAPOVA:
I was just playing with a much slower pace than I normally play with. You know, I wasn't -- I wasn't going for my shots as I normally do, and as usual, I wasn't seeing the ball that good. I wasn't taking the short balls and doing anything with them, kind of giving her the opportunity to get back in the points.
There were a couple important points that could have changed the match, and she ended up winning them. I think from that she gained confidence and kind of steamrolled after that in the third set.