Sharapova eyes Stuttgart title

STUTTGART: After serving a 15-month drugs ban for use of the illegal heart medication meldonium, Maria Sharapova’s return to the WTA circuit began in Stuttgart a year ago.

She is back, coached for a second time by Swede Thomas Hogstedt after splitting in March with Sven Groeneveld, and begins in the first round against France’s Caroline Garcia.

Sharapova has lifted the title three years in a row from 2012- 2014. However the world number 42 has managed only nine matches in 2018 due to her arm problem. With her fitness still not up to standard, Sharapova lost in the first round of Doha in February, withdrew from Dubai and was sent out in the Indian Wells first round by eventual winner Naomi Osaka.

AUSTRALIA TRIUMPH

WOLLONGONG: Daria Gavrilova put Australia back into the World Group of the Fed Cup with victory over Quirine Lemoine of the Netherlands.

The 24th-ranked Gavrilova, who replaced Saturday’s losing team-mate Samantha Stosur, beat the 295th-ranked Lemoine 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth singles to give Australia an unassailable 3-1 lead. Australia were last in the elite group of Fed Cup in 2015.

JAPAN BEAT BRITAIN

MIKI: Miyu Kato and Makoto Ninomiya beat Johanna Konta and Heather Watson 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in doubles to give Japan a 3-2 win over Britain in their Cup World Group playoff. Konta beat Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-3 in reverse singles.