Rivals' wrath overshadowing Sharapova's Stuttgart return

STUTTGART, Germany - Maria Sharapova returns after a 15-month doping ban on Wednesday, desperate to rediscover the glory which brought her five Grand Slams, the world's No 1 ranking and a spectacular multi-million dollar lifestyle.

But the poster girl of women's tennis isn't being welcomed back with open arms by rivals who were already suspicious of the towering Russian's ice-cold detachment even before her fall from grace.

Sharapova isn't losing any sleep over that, as the 30-year-old prepares for her first match since losing to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Australian Open.