Maria Sharapova will make her comeback after serving her 15-month doping suspension at the Porsche Grand Prix on April 26, reported BBC. The former world No. 1 was handed a two-year ban in March after testing positive for meldonium. However, her suspension was reduced in October following an appeal. The tournament in Stuttgart starts two days before Sharapova’s suspension runs out. She will only be allowed to attend the tournament on the day of her match.
Sharapova will return to tennis without a ranking and needs a wildcard to enter the tournament. “I could not be happier to have my first match back on tour at one of my favourite tournaments,” she said. “I can’t wait to see all my great fans and to be back doing what I love.”
The five-time Grand Slam champion won the Stuttgart title for three years in a row from 2012 to 2014. She last played a professional tournament at the Australian Open 12 months ago, where she failed the doping test. Sharapova has already participated in two exhibition events since her ban was reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.