Mixed feelings around Maria Sharapova's return

Not much fazes Roberta Vinci after 16 years on Tour, but the maelstrom swirling around her opening match in Stuttgart, Germany, against Maria Sharapova today will test the Italian’s vast experience.

Her 946th singles might ordinarily have been one to chalk off and forget, but standing over the other side of the net today will be the former world No.1 on her return from a 15-month doping ban.

Whatever else is happening on any other tennis court in the world will become irrelevant, as Russian multi-millionaire Sharapova, who turned 30 last week, resumes a career that made her the world’s richest sportswoman.