Russian tennis ace Maria Sharapova has revealed that she got 'goosebumps' after winning her first WTA Tour match in almost five months following absence from the court due to injury, in just over an hour.
The four-time Grand Slam winner made a successful return to the WTA Tour on Monday after brushing aside France's Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-0 in 63 minutes in the Brisbane International, showing no sign of her recent shoulder problems in her first outing since losing in the first round in Cincinnati in August.
According to CNN, the world number four, who is now working with the former mentor of Monica Seles and Mary Pierce- Sven Groeneveld, said that she got 'goosebumps' after her comeback victory as she was looking forward to the game from atleast a week ago, adding that she was very determined to get back on court.
Sharapova, who pulled out of last year's Brisbane event with shoulder problems, will next face Australian teenager Ashleigh Barty, whom she branded as another future star and said that she had seen Barty grow up from the juniors and now onto the tour.
Sharapova's boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov also won his opening match of the new season at the same Brisbane International tournament, the report added.