Maria Sharapova in Brisbane 2016. Press Conference

BRISBANE, Australia 
Just ahead of her title defense at the Brisbane International, Maria Sharapova met the press at the Premier-level tournament on Friday and discussed everything from her off-season, a tricky first round draw and a tantalizing potential semifinal showdown against Simona Halep. But first things first, her first round draw - and it's a doozy. Sharapova drew fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova, who isn't just a former Top 10 player, but a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist. 

 "The last time we played was in the semifinals of a Grand Slam, last year in Australia, and I don't think we've played since," Sharapova said. 
"She was injured at the end of last year and I haven't seen her play much because of that, but that's a pretty high quality first match against a tough opponent." Should the No.3-seeded Sharapova escape Makarova and eventually emerge out of her quarter of the draw, which includes No.7 seed Belinda Bencic, she could play No.1 seed Halep in the semifinals. 
 Though she's never lost to Halep, the World No.4 isn't taking anything for granted.