BERLIN: Maria Sharapova was drawn to face veteran Italian Roberta Vinci in her opening match at next week’s Stuttgart tournament as the five-time Grand Slam champion returns from a 15-month doping ban. The former world number one was controversially handed a wildcard into the claycourt event after her suspension wiped out her ranking. The Russian turned 30 on April 19, but on the Stuttgart tournament’s website she describes her return as her “nicest present. Sharapova can only play her first match on Wednesday, as that is when her ban comes to an end. Top seed Angelique Kerber has a bye in the first round and will face either Mirjana Lucic-Baroni or Kristina Mladenovic in her opener.

Source: Manila Times April 23, 2017 12:22 UTC