Maria Sharapova on the French Open: I'll play the juniors if I have to

Maria Sharapova has indicated that she would take a French Open qualifying wild card if it was offered to her, but added that she is not currently concentrating on whether she will play the clay-court major.

The 30-year-old Russian won her opening match in Stuttgart to begin a return from a 15-month suspension for testing positive for meldonium, which was banned in 2016.

Following her win, Sharapova was asked by reporters if she would be willing to play qualifying at the French Open if required.

"I think I'd be prepared to play in the juniors, if I had to,” the two-time Roland Garros champion said. “I think everyone in this room knows what a competitor I am … If I get the opportunity to be in a draw, I'll take it."

The French Tennis Federation is considering whether to give Sharapova a wild card into the event, either for the main draw or qualifying. Sharapova has received wild cards into Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome as she begins her comeback, but several players have criticized the decision by tournaments to offer entry to a player returning from suspension.

Sharapova declined to make an argument for why she should be receiving wild cards.

"That's not my job,” she said, noting that she still has to win matches to advance. “My job is to be a tennis player. I'm being offered wild cards from the tournament directors, and I'm accepting them to be able to compete in the draw."

She did confirm that she spoke to FFT President Bernard Giudicelli before Indian Wells.

“It's solely based on his decision and his team's,” she said, “and I'll respect whatever that decision is."

At the moment, she said her attention is on getting her "form back, and the rust off" in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.

"I know there's been a lot of talk about the French Open wild card, and whether I'll be playing there or not," she said. "I know Grand Slams are important … It would be amazing to be part of it … [But] these tournaments ... are just as big for me."

Sharapova next plays Ekaterina Makarova, who defeated Agnieszka Radwanska in the first round.