Maria Sharapova’s dazzling return to the U.S. Open after a 15-month drug suspension sparked a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 upset over No. 2-ranked Simona Halep in the first round on Monday night.
One of the biggest names in women’s tennis needed a wild card entry to even compete in this year’s open because of the drug suspension, which ended in April, ESPN reported. In front of the sold out crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, Sharapova grinded out the three-set victory to advance to the second round, the New York Post reported.
“(It meant) so much. So special,” Sharapova said after the match, per the Post. “This is obviously a different scale, completely different caliber to anywhere you play in the world. It’s electric. As much as I want to be in the zone, focus in on what I have to do, execution and all those things, I definitely
