Maria Sharapova has been granted a wildcard for next month's WTA grasscourt event in Birmingham, a key Wimbledon warm-up, organisers said Thursday.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova says she is not looking too far ahead after returning from a doping suspension but concedes she is eager to be competing for the biggest titles in tennis again.

Former world number one Martina Navratilova has urged players to stop focusing on Maria Sharapova after the Russian's recent return from a 15-month doping ban.

Maria Sharapova marks her return from a 15-month doping ban with a rusty 7-5, 6-3 win over Roberta Vinci in Stuttgart, describing victory as the "best feeling in the world".

Maria Sharapova will know on May 16 if she will be granted a wild card invitation for the French Open, the organisers of the May 28-June 11 grand slam tournament said on Wednesday.

From the shadow of Chernobyl's nuclear wasteland to international super-stardom and from penniless arrival in the United States, without a word of English, to a fortune of $200 million.

Maria Sharapova said Wednesday she refused to feel sorry for herself during her doping ban, occupying her time by studying at Harvard, writing a book and even learning how to box.

Maria Sharapova plans to make good use of the time on her hands thanks to a two-year doping ban from tennis.

Maria Sharapova is suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation for testing positive for meldonium at the Australian Open.

Two days after her stunning loss to Garbine Muguruza in the French Open final, Serena Williams scores a different win when Forbes Magazine reported she has overtaken Maria Sharapova as the world's highest-paid sportswoman.