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The former tennis queen, Maria Sharapova, won her first match on the comeback trail after she sat out of competitive tennis for 15 months to serve a doping sanction by the Women's Tennis Association. Get to know more details, here.

Back In Winning Form

Maria Sharapova's first match was against Roberta Vinci of Italy, who was also vocal against her return because of the doping scandal. She started out her game in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix tentatively and dropped the first two games but showed flashes of her old outstanding form with impressive returns and cross-court shots. She looked to have regained her confidence in the second set and won against the Italian, 7-5, 6-3, The New York Post reported.

Per The New York Post, Maria Sharapova was banned from playing professionally when she tested positive for meldonium. The drug was added to the banned list of doping drugs because it increases the amount of oxygen in the blood that flows to the heart, which experts believe causes improved performance.

Her participation in the tournament in Stuttgart raised many eyebrows, not just because she was given a wild card. The tournament sponsored by Porsche, which also happens to be her sponsor allowed her to compete even after the tournament had already started two days earlier. While some players contend she should work her way up without the help of wild cards from tournaments, others believe that she has served her punishment for doping and she was entitled to play, ESPN reported.

Maria Sharapova Doping Issue

The world of women's tennis still cannot deny Maria Sharapova's star power and they need that star power now more than ever, as world number one Serena Williams will take a maternity leave. The media coverage on Sharapova's return after her doping scandal is a testament enough of her staying power and marketability.

The upcoming tournaments she will compete in with wild card entries will be in Rome and Madrid. Her camp is also waiting for the announcement on May 16 if the French Open will likewise give her a chance to compete with a wild card.

If she wins in Madrid and Rome, she just might be able to gather enough points for qualify outright for the French Open and possibly Wimbledon. Stay tuned for more updates.