Maria's return stokes the fires

25 April 2017 - 10:05 By Reuters
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Roberta Vinci of Italy plays a backhand during first round match against Sara Errani of Italy during day three of the Internazoinali BNL D'Italia at the Foro Italico Tennis Centre on May 10, 2011 in Rome, Italy
Roberta Vinci of Italy plays a backhand during first round match against Sara Errani of Italy during day three of the Internazoinali BNL D'Italia at the Foro Italico Tennis Centre on May 10, 2011 in Rome, Italy
Image: Clive Brunskill

Not much fazes Roberta Vinci after 16 years as a professional. But the maelstrom swirling around her opening match in Stuttgart against Maria Sharapova will test even the Italian's vast experience.

The former world No1 returns from a 15-month doping ban tomorrow.

Debate rages about the Russian's crime and punishment.

Though some say the five-times grand slam champion - banned after testing positive for Meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open - has done her time, other players are angry the red carpet is being rolled out. With no ranking after the ban, Sharapova could have been forced to work her way back.

Instead, with tournament chiefs and sponsors aware of her ticket-selling appeal, she has been handed wildcards into the claycourt events in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.

Former world No1 Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska have cried foul, believing a player returning from a doping ban should do it the hard way.

Sharapova's agent Max Eisenbud said Wozniacki and Radwanska were "journeyman" players hoping to benefit from her exclusion.

Sharapova's prospective second-round clash against Poland's Radwanska could be an awkward encounter.

Whether the French Tennis Federation will fast-track her into the French Open draw is still uncertain but a Stuttgart win would boost her ranking.

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