"I was sick, down with flu and an upper respiratory illness. That's why I pulled out of the Paris Open but now I have recovered," the Russian world number four said on her arrival in Doha on Saturday.

Sharapova's main challenge in the Qatar Open is likely to come from France's [ Images ] world number two Amelie Mauresmo [ Images ], and fellow Russian Anastasia Myskina [ Images ], champion in Doha for the last two years.

Sharapova defeated world number one Lindsay Davenport [ Images ] to win the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo earlier this month after losing to Serena Williams [ Images ] in the semi-finals of the Australian Open [ Images ] in January.