Maria Sharapova happy to have her ‘day job' back as she prepares to return to tennis after 15-month ban

Maria Sharapova says she is happy to have her ‘day job back’ as she prepares for a return to tennis following her 15-month ban.

The 29-year-old has not competed since the 2016 Australian Open after testing positive for meldonium.

A wildcard entry will see her return at the Porsche Grand Prix in April, something she herself admits will be difficult.

Speaking at an ANA Inspiring Women in Sports Conference, she said "In tennis you lose a lot of hand-eye co-ordination. Practice is never the same as matchplay, to face someone on the other side of the net."

"When you love what you do, and you do it with passion and integrity and you work hard and have a team around you, and you're the driving force, you know what you stand for and who you are.

"I've got my day job back. It's great. I've been training quite hard for the past four months."

Sharapova appealed the two-year ban handed out by the International Tennis Federation last June, and her was reduced by nine months following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"I fought so hard for the truth," she continued. "You don't realise how much you love something until you lose it for some time."