Maria Sharapova has admitted that she may not be at her best at the start of the Australian Open.
The 26-year-old Russian, who missed the final months of the 2013 season with an injury to her right shoulder, lost to Serena Williams in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International last week in her comeback tournament.
"You obviously have to lower your expectations a little bit and be a bit realistic about maybe the first few matches," Reuters quotes her as saying.
"You have to grind, work through them, hope to get better as the tournament goes on."
Sharapova will take on Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the USA in the first round of the tournament next week.
