Maria Sharapova Returns to Tennis, Loses in Semifinals

Maria Sharapova's first tournament since her doping ban ended in defeat on April 29, 2017.

Maria Sharapova lost to Kristina Mladenovic of France in the Porsche Grand Prix semifinals.

Mladenovic beat Sharapova 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in 2 hours, 38 minutes.

Sharapova had been given a wild card to enter the Stuttgart event after losing her ranking due to the ban.

The former top-ranked Sharapova missed 13 of her 16 break-point opportunities.

Sharapova is now turning her attention to tournaments in Rome and Madrid before potentially appearing at the French Open.

Sharapova wants to feel the match play and the tiredness that comes with it.

The five-time Grand Slam champion had been out of competition for 15 months.

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at last year's Australian Open.

Mladenovic, ranked 19th, will next play last year's runner-up Laura Siegemund.

Siegemund advanced to her second final in her hometown with a 6-4, 7-5 defeat of fourth-seeded Simona Halep.

Sharapova's return to tennis has been highly anticipated.

The Russian tennis star is looking to regain her form.

Sharapova's doping ban ended on April 26, 2017.