Sharapova makes winning return

It doesn't seem two minutes since the WTA Championships and the Fed Cup final but amazingly the off season is past and the 2014 season is upon us! 9 of the top 10 are scheduled to be in action this week in Brisbane, Shenzhen and the mixed doubles competition at the Hopman Cup, Perth, with only the world number 10 Wozniacki missing from Brisbane due to a shoulder injury.

(Rank/Seed)

4/3 Sharapova is back! Contesting her first match since Cincinnati last summer, her shoulder injury looked thoroughly healed as she crushed France's Garcia 63 60 without facing a single break point! As her first tournament back and under the instruction of Sven Groeneveld, she has made it clear that she is taking her comeback one step at a time with no expectations.

5/- Radwanska opted against defending her Auckland title to represent Poland for the first time at the Hopman Cup with Grezegorz Panfil. So far, her debut has been going well as she's thus far beaten Italian Pennetta 62 62 and 2013 WTA Newcomer of the Year, Canada's Bouchard 63 67(7) 62, hitting a trademark forehand winner off her opponent's smash on match point! As a team, Poland beat Italy 3-0 but lost to Canada 2-1.

6/- Kvitova is hoping to emulate 2012 when the Czech Republic won the Hopman Cup as she teams with boyfriend Radek Stepanek this time as opposed to Tomas Berdych. Thus far, she has crushed Spain's Medina Garrigues 61 61 but struggled past France's Cornet 61 36 75. Though the Czech's beat Spain 3-0, they lost 2-1 to France.

7/2 Errani made her Shenzhen debut with a very tense victory over wildcard Zheng 60 36 76(3). Errani trailed 2-4 and 4-5 with Zheng serving in the third set!

8/4 Jankovic saved a set point in the second set en route to a tough 62 76(6) win over Italian Schiavone, avenging a loss to her here in the quarters back in 2012.

9/5 Kerber picked up where she left off last year, winning easily (despite the quiet atmosphere of an outside court at night) against France's Mladenovic 62 62.

Williams, Azarenka and Li are all set to play later this week! I can't wait!