MAKING A LOT OF A RACKET

Bouchard calls Sharapova a cheater

STUTTGART, GERMANY Maria Sharapova won her first match on her return from a 15-month doping ban, beating Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round of the Porsche Grand Prix on Wednesday.

The five-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 was earlier given a lukewarm welcome by 4,500 spectators, receiving a polite applause and some whistling when she entered the sold-out arena.

After a shaky start and conceding seven of the first eight points, Sharapova settled and showed flashes of her old self.

It was the Russian’s first match since losing to Serena Williams in the quarter-finals of the 2016 Australian Open, and her first match on clay in nearly two years.

Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, who lost 6-0, 6-4, to Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova in the first round of the Istanbul Open on Tuesday, became the latest in a line of players critical of Sharapova receiving a wild card to compete in the tournament.

“I don’t think that’s right. She’s a cheater and so, to me, I mean, I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be able to play that sport again,” Bouchard said.

“It’s so unfair to all the other players who do it the right away and are true. I think from the WTA, it sends the wrong message to young kids, you know, cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms. I don’t think that’s right and it’s definitely not someone I can say I look up to anymore, because it’s definitely ruined it for me a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Sharapova will find out next month if she can compete at the French Open.

French tennis federation president Bernard Giudicelli said Wednesday the announcement will be made on Facebook on May 16.

“The only guarantee I gave her is to call her beforehand,” Giudicelli said.