Sharapova wins in return from suspension
STUTTGART, Germany — Looking relieved,
Maria Sharapova went through her familiar routine of waving to the crowd and blowing kisses after winning her first match on her return from a 15-month doping ban on Wednesday.
The five-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 beat Roberta
Vinci 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round of the Porsche Grand Prix.
“It was the best feeling in the world,” Sharapova said about stepping on court again for a professional match. “I have been waiting for this a long time.”
Sharapova had earlier been given a lukewarm welcome by the 4,500 spectators, receiving polite applause and some whistling when she entered the sold-out arena.
The Russian had not been afraid of the reception that awaited her, despite the fact she entered the event on a muchdebated wild card.
“It’s not something you focus on, because you spent so many months training and preparing and getting ready that you have to be in your mind when you’re walking out on court,” she said.
Sharapova was not looking back in anger at her suspension, saying: “I am not an individual that’s angry. I let things go pretty quickly.”
Sharapova added that she had “a pretty normal life” and “grew as a person” while being away from the circuit until getting back to training in January.
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.” In other tennis news: • Defending champion
Rafael Nadal cruised
past Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round of the Barcelona Open.
Top-seeded Andy Murray also advanced but without having to play, as Bernard Tomic withdrew before their secondround match because of a lower back injury.
Nadal will next play Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Murray will play 40th-ranked Feliciano Lopez of Spain, who defeated Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL La.-Lafayette suspends 13
Louisiana-Lafayette indefinitely suspended 13 football players facing charges of criminal conspiracy to commit felony theft.
University of Louisiana-Lafayette police say the 13 students went to a dorm room April 5 and took several items worth a total of about $2,400. Police said the students were identified through video surveillance.
Police said all 13 students cooperated throughout the investigation. Police said they recovered all the stolen items.
HOCKEY Predators get jump on Blues
P.K. Subban had a goal and two assists, and Vernon Fiddler scored with 5:05 left, sending the Nashville Predators to a 4-3 victory over the host St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of their second-round NHL playoff series.
The Predators lost Kevin Fiala to an ugly leg injury in the second period and blew a 3-1 lead before Fiddler poked a loose puck by Jake Allen in the third. It was the fifth career playoff goal for the 36-year-old Fiddler, who did not play in Nashville’s first-round sweep of Chicago.
Colin Wilson and Filip Forsberg also scored for Nashville.
Colton Parayko, Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Sobotka scored for St. Louis. In other news: • Toronto’s Mike Babcock, Edmonton’s Todd McLellan and Columbus’ John Tortorella are the finalists for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL coach of the year.
Members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association voted at the end of the regular season, with the top three designated finalists Wednesday. The winner will be announced June 21 at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
BASEBALL Skeeters drop opening series
Cory Riordan held the Skeeters to one run over six innings and drove in three runs at the plate to lift the Bridgeport Bluefish to a 6-4 win in the rubber match of a season-opening seven-game series at Constellation Field.