Why Maria Sharapova Needs a Strong Showing at the 2015 Wuhan Open

Maria Sharapova took a wild card to the upcoming Wuhan Open. It's a late-season comeback attempt that will impact her efforts in 2016.

The five-time Grand Slam champion needs a strong showing in China to protect her ranking, dust off some rust and stave off an early skid next year.

The Wuhan Open gets underway September 27. It marks Sharapova's return to the courts for the first time since she lost in the Wimbledon semifinals against Serena Williams.

This summer, Sharapova withdrew from the Western & Southern Open and the U.S. Open, citing a right leg injury.

Sharapova told the WTA Tour website, "I have been working hard to get myself ready to compete again, and I can't wait to get back out there."

She has to get back out there, otherwise her ranking could take a hit. Before withdrawing from the U.S. Open, Sharapova was in battle with Simona Halep for the No. 2 ranking. After reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Open, Halep leads Sharapova by nearly 1,000 points. Meanwhile, Sharapova, ranked No. 3, has only a 500-point lead over No. 4 Petra Kvitova.

So while Sharapova already nailed down a spot in the WTA Championships, she could not afford to skip the Asian swing.

Last year, Sharapova lost to Timea Bacsinszky at Wuhan, but she won the China Open in Beijing, which begins October 3 this year. No way could she walk into Beijing with three-months rust and defend her title. She desperately needs some matches under her belt.

Besides, she has few points to defend in Wuhan. A strong showing there provides some buffer in case she crashes out early in Beijing, where she has 1,000 points to defend.

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#MariaSharapova to play first event since Wimbledon at next week's Wuhan Open Read more > http://t.co/aN5bTXI3bs pic.twitter.com/ivNRyDBvN7

— Live Tennis (@livetennis) September 22, 2015"

Right now, Kvitova poses the biggest threat to Sharapova's ranking. However, Garbine Muguruza, Lucie Safarova and Karolina Pliskova, all in the hunt for spots in the WTA Finals, could each make a strong push and challenge Sharapova early next year, when defending points gets even tougher.

This year, Sharapova won Brisbane and made it to the finals of the Australian Open. That's 1,770 points to defend early next year, which is why shoring up points in China is a must.

She also has to build momentum going into the Fed Cup. Sharapova plans to represent Russia in the Fed Cup finals against the Czech Republic in Prague in November. She must play to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2014, Sharapova objected to the ITF changing the rules that now require players compete in at least four ties in the Davis Cup or Fed Cup between Olympic cycles. Previously, players only had to participate in two ties.

Winning the gold medal is a goal Sharapova has her heart set on. She was injured and missed Beijing in 2008, and she settled for silver at the 2012 Olympics after falling to Williams.

Last year she spoke with Abhimanyu Nagpal of Tennis Earth about her Olympic aspirations:

"As a Grand Slam tournament winner, you do not spend all the hours on the training ground if you do not have other great triumphs in mind. The gold medal in Rio would be something special."

With massive points to defend in Australia and Rio on the horizon, Sharapova needs a solid performance in China to kick-start her comeback.