Three-time Stuttgart champion Maria Sharapova started her long-awaited comeback from Meldonium suspension with a bang, overpowering Roberta Vinci 7-5 6-3 in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, making the thrilling day at the tournament even more exciting.
With her serve on point, Sharapova’s game got better and better as the match progressed. After Vinci’s initial 2-0 lead, Sharapova broke back right away and after a pile of long games, which included many wasted break points by the Russian, the fresh 30-year-old recorded a crucial break to lead 6-5 and quickly afterwards the first set was hers.