AVE MARIA

Exiled tennis star Maria Sharapova is back. “She says she’s thrilled the U.S. Open extended her a wild card invite,” says an insider who recently spoke to the 30-year-old racket swinger. She’s freshly back from a 15 month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. The Russian star is baring her soul in her new book “Unstoppable” and suffered “days in despair” after the ban, we’re told. The U.S. Open starts on Aug. 28.