Sharapova, Ivanovic to compete at Brisbane international tennis tourney

Sharapova, who was at times just a loss away from falling out of the world's top 10 during the clay court season but had such a strong rest of the season that she finished the year at No. 2 in the world, will be the top seed at the $1 million tournament.

"Brisbane is such a great tournament," Sharapova told the tournament's official website. "I had tried to make it so many years and I finally made it in 2014, and it was such a great experience. "The fans were wonderful and the tournament organization was great." After missing four and a half months in late 2013 due to a right shoulder injury, Sharapova made her comeback to the tour at last year's Brisbane International and made it all the way to the semifinals, eventually falling in a close two-setter to longtime rival Serena Williams. Ivanovic, the former world No. 1, who fell out of the top 10 in 2009 and was trying to get back into the elite for more than five years, finally made it back there in 2014 - and actually she ended up finishing the year all the way up at No. 5 in the world, Xinhua reports. "I can't wait to return to Brisbane next year. It will be my first time competing at the tournament since 2012 and I'm really excited to have the opportunity to play there again," Ivanovic commented.