Sharapova victorious in return to Australian Open: 'I've got shivers'

Maria Sharapova marked her return to the Australian Open with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Germany's Tatjana Maria in the first round.

The Russian was suspended from the tour for 15 months after testing positive for the drug meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. She made her return to the tour last April, but didn't contest her first Grand Slam tournament until the U.S. Open, where she reached the fourth round.

Sharapova, now ranked 48th, is one of two former Australian Open champions in the women's field, alongside Angelique Kerber. Sharapova won the tournament in 2008 and has reached the final on three other occasions.

''I've got shivers,'' Sharapova said of playing again at Melbourne Park. ''It means a lot to me. I cherish these moments.''

Sharapova could next play 14th-seeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, who beat the Russian at last year's U.S. Open.