WATCH: Maria Sharapova struggles but advances on return at Stanford Classic

Courtesy: Screengrab

New Delhi: Maria Sharapova, who recently said that her passion for tennis grew stronger during suspension, beat Jennifer Brady 6-1 4-6 6-0 as she returned from injury at Stanford's Bank of the West Classic.

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.@MariaSharapova secures a spot in @BOTWClassic Second round!

Beats Brady 6-1, 4-6, 6-0! pic.twitter.com/5vDMmkWIrG — WTA (@WTA) August 1, 2017

The Russian returned in April after a 15-month doping ban for testing positive for meldonium, had been out with a thigh problem since 16 May.

The five-time Grand Slam champion was given a wildcard to play in the United States for the first time since March 2015.

"I feel like I just want to hug everyone and say thank you," said Sharapova, who is currently ranked 171st in the world.

"It's my first match in the States in a really long time, and it's the closest thing to home for me."

Sharapova was denied a wildcard for the French Open earlier this year, and was unable to take part in qualifying for Wimbledon because of injury.

Having missed the entire grass-court season, the five-time Grand Slam champion will not gain direct entry into the US Open, which starts on 28 August.