Maria Sharapova won on her arrival to activity following a 15-month doping boycott as she beat Roberta Vinci in the first round of the Stuttgart Open.
The Russian, who was suspended last March in the wake of testing positive for meldonium, beat the Italian 7-5 6-3.
There was no detectable awful gathering for the 30-year-old, who reacted well to losing her initially benefit amusement to take a tight opening set in Stuttgart.
She softened twice up the second to advance to confront Ekaterina Makarova.
Sharapova, who hit 11 aces and 39 winners, said: “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.
“It’s the best feeling in the world, those first few seconds before you enter the arena. To know you were walking back out there was special.
“I spent a long time without hitting any balls. I didn’t know when I would be back. I went to school for a little bit, I grew my business and had a normal life. I put the racquet away for a little bit.
“I felt I had to grow as a person and I think I’ve done that. But this is what I’ve done for so long. I’m a competitor – that’s when I’m at my best.”
The choice to give five-time Grand Slam champ Sharapova a trump card passage for this occasion, and in addition up and coming competitions in Madrid and Rome, has been addressed by various players, including her Italian first-round rival.
Be that as it may, it has been safeguarded by WTA boss Steve Simon, who said it was with regards to how previous dopers were dealt with in different games, including that she was “starting at ground zero”.
The previous world number one will discover on 16 May on the off chance that she has been given a trump card for the French Open, which begins on 28 May.
After Wednesday’s triumph, the Russian revealed to BBC Sport that she would “play in the juniors” on the off chance that she needed to, to contend at the French Open and Wimbledon in July.
“I think everyone in this room knows what a competitor I am and I don’t take anything for granted, and if I get the opportunity to be in a draw then I will take it,” she added.
“I’m being offered wildcards from the tournament directors and I’m accepting them to be able to compete in the draw.
“I’m coming with no ranking and I’m not getting a wildcard to receive a trophy or a golden platter. I have to get through the matches and I still have to win them and that’s my job.”
Wednesday’s match was a positive begin to the way toward revamping her reality positioning focuses against the lady 34th on the planet.
She was naturally corroded yet forgotten about an apprehensive begin to break Vinci at the principal opportunity in the wake of losing her initially benefit amusement, giving unfavorable hints with a string of huge victors.
Vinci was then taken to deuce in each resulting administration diversion until the weight at long last told, with Sharapova taking a 6-5 lead and after that serving out the principal set.
Sharapova began the second set with another break of serve to win her fourth diversion in succession and leave Vinci reeling.
The Italian clutched take the set to 4-3 at the end of the day the Russian’s prevalence appeared with a break over affection and an effortlessly won last administration diversion.
