Maria Sharapova will end an absence of 12 years from the Dubai Tennis Championships after the Russian accepted a wildcard entry to the event, which begins on February 19.

Five-time grand slam winner Sharapova defeated Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport en route to a finals appearance at her last appearance at the event in 2006.

She will join a women’s field also including Australian Ashleigh Barty, Wimbledon winner Garbine Muguruza and former world number ones Angelique Kerber and Karolina Pliskova.

On the comeback trail from a 15-month drug ban, the 30-year-old Russian reached the Australian Open third round earlier this month, where she lost to eventual semi-finalist Kerber.

Also playing are defending champion and 2018 Brisbane winner Elina Svitolina and 2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys.