After leading by a set and 4-1 in the second, Sharapova showed some fatigue and rust, dropping five games in a row. But in the third, Sharapova regained control by going ahead 3-0, using her power to keep two-time French Open runner-up Halep under pressure. Sharapova had not played at a Grand Slam tournament since January 2016, when she tested positive for the newly banned heart drug meldonium during the Australian Open. Halep was among eight women who entered the U.S. Open with a chance to top the WTA rankings by tournament's end. Sharapova vs. Halep was a tremendously entertaining and high-quality contest, more befitting a final than a first-rounder.

Source: Fox News August 29, 2017 04:41 UTC