US Open: 'Wildcard' Maria Sharapova to make tennis grand slam return after 18 months

Former world number one Maria Sharapova will make her first grand slam appearance in over 18 months after she was awarded a main draw wildcard for the upcoming U.S. Open, the tournament organisers confirmed on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old Russian, who returned from a 15-month doping ban earlier this year, was denied a wildcard at the French Open before she missed the grass court season, including Wimbledon, with a thigh injury.

Sharapova's U.S. Open preparations have been disrupted by an arm injury suffered during her first round win over Jennifer Brady earlier this month.

The world number 148 was forced to withdraw from the Rogers Cup and the ongoing Cincinnati Open as a precautionary measure ahead of the final grand slam of the year.

The U.S. Open runs from Aug. 28 to Sept. 10 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York.