HIGHLIGHTS: Sharapova comes out strong in first match in 15 months

It was 15 months in the making.

Maria Sharapova, suspended for testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open, made her highly-anticipated return to the WTA tour in Stuttgart on Wednesday.

The five-time Grand Slam champion, who received a wild card into the main draw, was treated kindly by the 4,500 fans on hand. The audience greeted her with applause and whistles as she confidently walked onto the court.

As was to be expected, the former world No. 1 looked a bit rusty in the first set against Italian veteran Roberta Vinci. Clearly feeling some nerves, Sharapova dropped seven of the first eight points and fell behind 0-2 within five minutes.

She broke in the third game to get on the board, but Vinci appeared to be in control after holding for 5-4. Serving to stay in the match, Sharapova leveled at 5-5 and took the next two games to grab the first set.

Sharapova really came into her own and looked like her former self in the second set, controlling the points and breaking Vinci at 5-3 to complete an impressive 7-5, 6-3 victory.

The match was Sharapova’s first on clay in almost two years. Noticeably elated after winning her season debut—and simply being back on court—Sharapova waved to the crowd and blew kisses to fans.

Sharapova’s second-round opponent will be countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova. The 30-year-old was in line to play seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in a battle of superstars, but the Pole fell to Makarova in her opener. If Sharapova gets past Makarova on Thursday, she’ll meet qualifier Anett Kontaveit—who upset fifth-seeded Garbine Muguruza—in the quarterfinals.