Former world number one Maria Sharapova beat Italian Roberta Vinci in straight sets in the first round of the Stuttgart Grand Prix
ADVERTISEMENTMaria Sharapova made a winning comeback to the tour following her 15-month doping ban.
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MariaSharapova</a> impresses in first match in 15 months!<br><br>HIGHLIGHTS--> <a href="https://t.co/a2o4KEcyDf">https://t.co/a2o4KEcyDf</a> <a href="https://t.co/81uKC2IpX7">pic.twitter.com/81uKC2IpX7</a></p>— WTA (WTA) April 26, 2017
The former world number one beat Italian Roberta Vinci in straight sets in the first round of the Stuttgart Grand Prix.
The 30-year-old Russian received a controversial wild card for the German tournament, having had no ranking points after more than a year out following her suspension.
She made a nervous start, but found her strokes to power past the world number 36, 7-5 6-3.