Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Maria Sharapova returns to action in Las Vegas charity event

Maria Sharapova (L) and John McEnroe high-five during their mixed doubles match
Maria Sharapova (L) and John McEnroe high-five during their mixed doubles match

Maria Sharapova set foot on a tennis court for the first time since her positive drug test at a charity event in Las Vegas on Monday.

Sharapova was all smiles in the World Team Tennis Smash Hits event, her first since the Australian Open in January.

The Russian star, who last week earned a reduction in her drug ban that will allow her to return to tennis in April, played in two light-hearted doubles matches in the event at Caesar's Palace to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Sharapova lost her doubles match with American youngster Taylor Johnson when they faced Martina Navratilova and Liezel Huber.

Sharapova is all smiles in Las Vegas
Sharapova is all smiles in Las Vegas

The 29-year-old indicated that she had felt a hint of nerves along with her 16-year-old doubles partner Johnson.

"It was a big occasion for her (Johnson) and also for me," Sharapova told ESPN.

"I haven't been on a court for a while, for both of us, it was to have some fun and a bit of laughs."

Sharapova later paired with US legend John McEnroe in the evening's final game against Navratilova and Andy Roddick.

Sharapova had not played since testing positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January.

Her initial 24-month ban was reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last Tuesday, a ruling which has divided opinion among her peers.

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