(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-27 10:28

DUBAI - Maria Sharapova hopes to rival world No 1 Justine Henin this year despite deciding to withdraw from the Dubai Open because of a virus on Tuesday.

Russia's Maria Sharapova looks up during a press conference, to announce her withdrawal from the Dubai Tennis Championships due to a viral illness, on the second day of the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships February 26, 2008. [Agencies]

"I feel I have improved tremendously since the time I played Justine here (two years ago, when she lost in the final)," she said.

"It takes time to improve your game, but I have had a solid year this year," added Sharapova, who followed her triumph at the Australian Open last month, the third Grand Slam title of her career, by winning the Qatar Open last week.

"And I am sure that I am going to play Justine for many years to come. Hopefully I will be able to achieve the things she has achieved."

But to manage this, Sharapova feels she must be careful with her health and schedule. She played all the way through the Doha tournament with the same virus, she claims, and felt worse when she woke up in Dubai Monday.

"I think it's a lot of flying which has done it," she said. "I have done a lot of traveling in the last few weeks - going from Australia to Israel, then home, with no rest at all, practicing for Doha and going there.

"I have to be smart about my decisions and I have made some wrong ones in the past - getting injured and getting sick, and going out there and not being 100 percent. Then you are liable to hurt yourself. I have a long year.

"It's unfortunate and you always try to do the best you can to compete. But if you are not 110 percent mentally and physically I owe it to the fans not to go out there and play half fit.

"Realistically, thinking about it, I didn't think I could play five matches here, and as an athlete you have to be mentally and physically ready. After a few really long weeks you need a rest."