First half of Maria's 2007 schedule released

Maria will play the following tournaments in the first half of 2007:

January 3-6
Watsons Water Challenge - Hong Kong
Exhibition - Hardcourts

January 15-28
Australian Open - Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam - Rebound Ace

January 29-February 4
Toray Pan Pacific Open - Tokyo, Japan
Tier 1 - Indoors

February 19-25
Dubai Tennis Championships - Dubai, UAE
Tier 2 - Hardcourts

March 5-18
Pacific Life Open, Indian Wells, USA
Tier 1 - Hardcourts

March 21-April 1
Sony Ericsson Open - Miami, USA
Tier 1 - Hardcourts

April 21-22
Fed Cup vs Spain - Moscow, Russia

May 14-20
Internazionali d'Italia - Rome, Italy
Tier 1 - Clay

May 27-June 10
Roland Garros - Paris, France
Grand Slam - Clay

June 25-July 8
Wimbledon, London, Great Britain
Grand Slam - Grass

Maria will begin 2007 on January 3rd with an exhibition in Hong Kong that lasts until the 6th.  8 players are entered there.

Then Maria will have 1 week to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open.  The last 2 years Maria has reached the semis and she has 314 points to defend.

Maria won't have much of a break as she will then head to Tokyo like she has done for the previous 3 years.  Maria won here in 2005 and reached the semis last year and has 135 points to defend.

Maria will take a couple of weeks off and then head to Dubai.  Maria reached the final there this year and has 154 points to defend.

Next up are 2 super tier 1's in the US.  Indian Wells begins on March 5th and Maria is the defending champion and has 325 points to defend.  This is the tournament where Maria made her WTA debut in 2002.  Maria will then fly to the east coast and play Miami which begins on March 21st.  Maria has reached the final here for the last 2 years and has 246 points to defend.

Maria will then take the next 3 weeks off and will make her Fed Cup debut for Russia against Spain in Moscow.

Maria's clay season will begin in Rome on May 14th.  Maria didn't play this year due to injury and then she heads for the 2nd Grand Slam of the year at Roland Garros in Paris.  Maria reached the 4th round there this year and has 96 points to defend.

Wimbledon is next up for Maria which begins on June 25th.  This is the culmination of the short grass season.  Maria reached the semis there this year and has 314 points to defend.

Please note that the schedule is subject to change.