Maria Sharapova's controversial return to competitive tennis was a winning one as she overcame Roberta Vinci 7-5 6-3 in the first round of the Stuttgart Open.
The former world number one was back in action at a tournament she has won three times courtesy of a wildcard just 24 hours after the end of her 15-month suspension for failing a drugs test.
Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open and her original two-year ban was reduced on appeal.
Not all of her peers have welcomed her return but Sharapova received a good reception when she was introduced to the crowd and subsequently walked out on court alongside her opponent in Germany.
It took the 30-year-old time to get into her stride but generally it looked like the same old Sharapova, with relentless aggression and heavy hitting off both the forehand and backhand sides which caused Vinci numerous problems, especially on her own serve.
The 2015 US Open finalist was taken to deuce countless times and faced numerous break points and defeat came on her own serve as she was broken to love.
By contrast, Sharapova's service games were often comfortable, particularly in the second set, and the former world number one will now play fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the second round.
Also through is British number one Johanna Konta after she put a difficult weekend behind her by beating Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka.
Konta travelled to Germany from Constanta, where she left the court in tears and was accused of gamesmanship during Great Britain's fiery Fed Cup play-off against Romania.
She did not find things easy against Osaka but took advantage of her opponent's physical struggles to run away with the third set and triumph 7-6 (7/5) 3-6 6-1. Konta will face Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova in the second round.
Number four seed Simona Halep became the first woman through to the quarter-finals as she overcame Barbora Strycova.
Halep reeled off six straight games to claim the opening set as well as four of the last five in the match to seal a 6-2 6-3 victory.
In Turkey at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup, top seed Elina Svitolina dropped the second set 6-0 against Russian qualifier Viktoria Kamenskaya but recovered emphatically to claim a 6-4 0-6 6-1 win.
Defending champion Cagla Buyukakcay is also through to the second round after snapping a nine-match losing streak with a 6-2 6-1 win over Maryna Zanevska. She will face her doubles partner Timea Babos after she won 6-3 6-2 against Conny Perrin.
There were also wins for Ayla Aksu, who upset Elizaveta Kulichkova 7-5 6-1, Elise Mertens, Dayana Yastremska and Romanian trio Irina-Camelia Begu, Alexandra Cadantu and Sorana Cirstea.
Source: PA
