VIDEO: Maria Sharapova practices with Max Mirnyi as she begins preparations for 2019 season
Maria Sharapova is already on court preparing for the 2019 season.
In a video that surfaced on Twitter, the Russian tennis star can be seen hitting with Belarusian doubles specialist Max Mirnyi at the IMG Academy.
And she looked as committed as ever as she hit some powerful forehands and backhands while being quick on her feet movement.
Sharapova, a former world No. 1 and a five-time Grand Slam champion, had a far from impressive 2018 season.
.@MariaSharapova hitting with Max Mirnyi @IMGAcademy ????????????
????: aysuko / IG stories pic.twitter.com/VCoj3dyP7a
— Christelle ????️ (@SquirrelPova) November 12, 2018
Her best Grand Slam performance was a quarter-final finish at the French Open, with her latest appearance being a fourth-round finish at the US Open.
With the record reading a dismal 21-11, the 31-year-old pulled the plug on her 2018 season prematurely, withdrawing from WTA events in Beijing, Tianjin and Moscow to stay fresh for the new season.
Sharapova is expected to begin her new season in Shenzhen before participating at the season-opening Major, the Australian Open.
Maria Sharapova is shutting down her 2018 season, withdrawing from Beijing, Tianjin, and Moscow to rest and recuperate.
She plans to return at WTA Shenzhen to start the 2019 season, per her team.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 17, 2018