‘Solid’ Sharapova wins second match on comeback

MARIA SHARAPOVA picked up a second win in as many days on her comeback from a 15-month doping ban yesterday, beating fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova at the Stuttgart WTA tournament. The 30- “Practice and playing are so different and you can only prepare the best you can, so it’s good to finally play,” said the former No. 1, in Stuttgart on a wildcard. “The reaction and anticipation you need are so hard to replicate in training and these are the things I need.” Makarova, who has now lost all of her seven matches against Sharapova, put up a fight as the first set followed serve, but was broken in the final game. Sharapova pumped her fist and let out a scream as she converted her second set point. It was all Sharapova in the second set as she won six straight games after Makarova won the first on her serve. – AFP