Maria Sharapova launched her competitive comeback of sorts last night in Las Vegas.
The five-time Grand Slam champion partnered 16-year-old junior Taylor Johnson in a 5-2 doubles defeat to Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova and former world No. 1 doubles player Liezel Huber in the opening match of World TeamTennis' 24th annual Smash Hits.
Watch: Maria Sharapova Rips ITF
The exhibition event staged on the WTT's classic multi-colored court at Caesars Palace on the Vegas strip marked Sharapova's first appearance on courther since her Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Serena Williams last January.
Sharapova tested positive for the banned substance meldonium in Melbourne. She was hit with a two-year doping ban, but appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reduced her suspension to 15 months.
The 29-year-old Sharapova said she will play a few more exhibition events to gain match play before she's eligible to return to the WTA Tour next April.
"I will look to play maybe a couple of exhibition events leading up to my first tournament in April," Sharapova said. "I don't know what those will be.
"But I think that's one of the things that will be really important. Because match play, you can never really replicate it. You can practice as much as you want, but there's nothing really like it. I won't be playing too many, but I think a few next year will really help me."
The exhibition raised more than $600,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Monday night.
The 2016 edition of Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King’s annual charity tennis pushed the 24-year total to more than $15 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness programs.
A capacity crowd gave Sharapova a positive reception when she walked out on court.
"Obviously, I hope to see a lot of fans tonight," Sharapova said before the match. "That's one of the reasons why I love playing around the world is being able to interact with people. And a lot of people that come watch me play probably come for the very first time.
"I was saying to Billie Jean no matter what the event is like whether you're playing an exhibition match or playing the finals of a Grand Slam you have to be ready just like you are for every single match the same way. Because those people in the stands could be there for the first time and they really want to see you play competitive tennis and that will be our job today and also have a lot of fun."
Sharapova joined forces with Hall of Famer John McEnroe defeating Andy Roddick and Navratilova, 5-3, in mixed doubles, winning the first set of the night for Team Billie Jean and sending the match into Extended Play.
Team Billie Jean won the first game in Extended Play but Roddick and Navratilova closed out the set and match by winning the next game for Team Elton.
At the pre-match press conference, Navratilova asked Elton John his thoughts on Sharapova's suspension.
The avid tennis fan praised Sharapova as "extremely generous," but did not directly address her doping ban.
"I can't comment on the suspension as I'm not involved with that," Elton John said. "I think it's amazing she's playing tonight. She's giving her time. She doesn't need to. She's being extremely generous.
"I've done things with her before. She's always a very generous sportswoman and athlete. What happened with her is none of my business. I can't comment on it. All I know is that I think she's fantastic to turn up to tonight. Because she knows she's going to get questions thrown in her face. I think that she came and has shown up is brilliant. Good for her."
Avid tennis fans and Las Vegas residents Gladys Knight and Mike Tyson took in the action on the multi-colored tennis court just steps away from where Elton John plays his hit show, “The Million Dollar Piano” at Caesars Palace.
For more on WTT Smash Hits, visit www.WTTSmashHits.com. For more information on the Elton John AIDS Foundation, visit www.EJAF.org.
Photo credit: CameraWork USA