STUTTGART: 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 a 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 that she entered the event on a much-debated wildcard.

“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.

Wednesday’s match was the Russian’s first since losing to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Australian Open, and her first match on clay in nearly two years.

Against the 36th-ranked Italian, Sharapova had a shaky start, conceding seven of the first eight points and dropping the opening two games within five minutes.

She finally took her fifth chance in the third game to break Vinci’s serve.

Results (x denotes seeding):

Second round: Anett Kontaveit (EST) bt Garbie Muguruza (ESP x5) 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-1 Simona Halep (ROM x4) bt Barbara Strycova (CZE) 6-2, 6-3.

Second round: Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) bt Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 6-4, 6-2; Elena Vesnina (RUS) bt Daria Kasatkina (RUS) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2; Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) bt Tamara Korpatsch (GER) 6-2, 6-4; Maria Sharapova (RUS) bt Roberta Vinci (ITA) 7-5, 6-3; Johanna Konta (GBR x6) bt Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-1; Coco Vandeweghe (USA) bt Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3).

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2017