NEWPORT BEACH (California): Maria Sharapova declared her surgically repaired right shoulder fully healed and that she was ready to return to the court for the first time since a disappointing show at Wimbledon.

‘I am a hundred per cent,’ Sharapova said on Wednesday before making an appearance for the Newport Beach Breakers in their World Team Tennis match against Kansas City.

‘I mean, if I wasn’t at that point, I certainly wouldn’t be playing. That’s why I took my time and gave myself a chance to really go out there and to feel like I didn’t have any excuses.’

Sharapova played in three matches for the Breakers, winning all three.

She teamed with Julie Ditty to take women’s doubles, 5-2; combined with Kaes Van’t Hof to capture mixed doubles, 5-2; and defeated Meghann Shaughnessy 5-4 (1) in women’s singles.

The former No. 1 player in the world has appeared in four tournaments since undergoing surgery in October to repair her right rotator cuff. She’s been eliminated each time to an opponent outside the top ten.

Last month, she was upset in the second round of Wimbledon by Gisela Dulko. A champion at the All England Club at age 17, Sharapova is now ranked 61st.

She will compete in the Bank of West Tournament in California starting on Monday and then test her shoulder by playing the following week in the Los Angeles Women’s Tennis Championship. After that, it’s the US Open, which begins on Aug 31.

Sharapova said has never wavered in believing she would make a full comeback.

‘By no means was it easy. Definitely I had ups and downs,’ she stated. ‘I had days where I had to push myself more than I’ve ever had to mentally than physically.’

‘It all pays off. Obviously just getting to be able to play tennis again is an achievement in itself. Now it’s about preparing myself, forgetting about what I went through, getting back into the form where I was — and even better.’—AP