Rested Sharapova seeks to maintain form at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Refreshed after a week's break, Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova is eager to build on her fast start to the year at this week's Pacific Life Open.

The 20-year-old Russian is unbeaten in 14 matches this season and has recovered from the viral illness which forced her to pull out of the Dubai Championships two weeks ago.

More significantly, Sharapova is delighted to be injury-free after suffering a spate of ailments in 2007 ranging from hamstring strains to shoulder problems.

"It is so refreshing because basically all of last year, in the grand slams and a couple of other tournaments, I was playing with pain-killers before every single match," Sharapova told reporters on Wednesday.

"Even though during the match it might be taking care of the pain, you know at the back of your mind it's not 100 percent and you have to do something about it.

"For much of last year, I couldn't serve and I couldn't hit a backhand volley so I couldn't work on either of those."

Sharapova jetted into Israel for the Fed Cup immediately after her Melbourne Park triumph. After a short break, she then traveled to Doha, where she won her 18th WTA title before having to withdraw from Dubai two days later.

She attributed her viral problems to her globe-trotting tournament schedule but has now put that behind her.

BANGS HAIRSTYLE

"I basically did nothing for a week," said the blonde Russian, who since the Australian Open has been sporting a 'Kate Moss fringe', or 'bangs' hairstyle as it is known in the United States.

"I went on a little holiday for three or four days with a great group of my friends, special people who I don't get to see very often and I just started training a couple of days ago."

Sharapova was startled to realize she had clocked up just under 50,000 miles this year.

"It's crazy to know you've traveled so much but it's also been pretty rewarding," the world number five said. "Although I've been traveling, I've really been playing great tennis."

Asked to pinpoint why she had begun her 2008 campaign in such sparkling form, she replied: "One of the biggest reasons was that I had a really good off-season with no injuries.

"I had no worries of hurting myself or feeling that I'm going to start the year injured, which has been the case the previous two years. I had that excitement of getting better and working hard.

"If I ever do have a serious injury again, I know I can come back and play even better tennis than I did before because I did it," added the Russian, who claimed her third grand slam title at the Australian Open in January.

"Last year was probably one of the toughest times in my career and I came back playing stronger and being mentally stronger and I just felt great about myself."

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)