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Maria Sharapova to return in July for World Team Tennis matches

Maria Sharapova plans to play for the Orange County Breakers - a team she has played for seven years - on July 16 and July 24.

A file image of Maria Sharapova. Image Source : GETTY IMAGESA file image of Maria Sharapova.

Maria Sharapova will return to competitive tennis in July for two World Team Tennis matches. Sharapova recently returned to the WTA Tour after a 15-month doping ban. She is skipping Wimbledon because of an injured left thigh that prevented her from competing in qualifiers.

Sharapova plans to play for the Orange County Breakers - a team she has played for seven years - on July 16 and July 24.

Sharapova had originally planned to return for a hard court tournament in Stanford, California, on July 31.

The five-time major champion is ranked 179th in the world.