US Open draw: Sharapova to face Halep, Federer to play Nadal

She had not played in a grand slam since the 2016 Australian Open, after which she was handed the ban for testing positive for metabolic modulator meldonium.

Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam victor, is back after serving a 15-month ban after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

The French Open organisers this year decided against offering Sharapova a wild card, a move that was welcomed by many top players on the WTA Tour.

The five-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the recently-concluded Cincinnati Masters with a left forearm injury.

The Romanian, one of eight women who began the fortnight with a chance to end it as the world No 1, fought back from 4-1 down to take the second set, Sharapova having got the start she would have wanted by claiming the opener. In the opening game of the second set, Peng played sloppy tennis and dropped serve, but after that she took control of the match and reeled off six games in a row for the victory. With the women’s singles field seeing a mix of both veteran and young talent this year, a player such as Sharapova may be able to advance deep.

“I don’t think any tennis fan in the world is not going to have that match on”.

Halep and Sharapova haven’t faced each other since 2015, and three of their last four matches went to the third set.

“You try and think it’s another day, another opportunity but it was so much more”, Sharapova said. Since I’ve come back, I feel like I’m on a team.

“When I found out that I received the wildcard, I was obviously extremely excited”, 2006 US Open champion Sharapova told reporters.

‘That behind this black dress with Swarovski crystals this girl has a lot of grit and she is not going anywhere, ‘ said Sharapova. Her record at Arthur Ashe Stadium at night improves to 18-0. “We put in all the work and this is exactly why”.

Over the course of two hours and 44 minutes, Sharapova’s greater pace off the racquet outstripped Halep’s speed of foot, with 60 winners proving decisive despite 64 errors. “It’s always tough. I knew I would have to work for it”.

After accepting a controversial wild-card nod from the United States Tennis Association, Sharapova defeated No. 2 seed Simona Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. But she couldn’t convert it. But then Sharapova blinked. Her forehand lost its way. But it didn’t take long for her to act as the superstar she has been since she won Wimbledon as a teenager. “We all knew it was inevitable she would be back in majors and playing”. She raced ahead 3-0 in the third, then 5-2.

The 146th-ranked Russian wildcard improved to 7-0 lifetime against Halep with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 triumph Monday on the NY hardcourts, marking Halep’s 30th Grand Slam appearance without a title.