Sharapova makes a triumphant return

TEPID

Maria Sharapova was given a lukewarm welcome by 4,500 spectators upon her return to professional tennis on Wednesday after a 15-month doping ban.

After receiving a polite applause and some whistling when she entered the sold-out arena, the five-time Grand Slam champion and former No 1 took on Roberta Vinci in an openinground match at the Porsche Grand Prix. The Russian defeated her Italian opponent 7-5, 6-3.

It’s the Russian’s first match since losing to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Australian Open.

Last year, Sharapova tested positive for the banned substance meldonium. She had her initial two-year ban reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled that the Russian bore “less than significant fault” in the case and that she could not “be considered to be an intentional doper.”

Sharapova had been taking meldonium for many years, but overlooked an announcement by the World Anti-Doping Agency

that it added the drug to its banned list on Jan. 1, 2016.

Due to the suspension, Sharapova lost her ranking. But the three-time winner from 2012-14 was given direct entrance to the main draw of the Stuttgart event. Organisers in Madrid and Rome followed the example and handed her a wild card for their events in May as well. Several