It hasn't been pretty, it has irked quite a few of her fellow players, but Maria Sharapova will make her comeback from a doping ban when the Russian takes court against Roberta Vinci at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart on Wednesday.
Sharapova has been given a wildcard by the Porsche Grand Prix organisers, something that hasn't gone down too well with her peers, with quite a few of them criticising the WTA and the various tournament organisers' anxiousness to welcome the 30-year-old back with open arms, despite her serving a ban for 15 months for taking a banned WADA substance.
It is not like Sharapova has ever been the most popular player in the locker room and to make matters worse, the Russian has shown absolutely no contrition after she tested positive for meldonium, a banned substance on the WADA list.
So, to see Sharapova just walk back into the main draw of a high-profile event on the WTA Tour is, understandably, not great to see.
However, such is the power of the most marketable women's tennis player in the world, that the organisers were always going to find ways of getting her back in court and under the spotlight as soon as possible.
Especially now that one of the other marketable athletes – Serena Williams – will miss the rest of the year.
Sharapova's first opponent on comeback, Vinci, is one of those who has been irked by the ease with which the Russian has been allowed to make a return to the WTA Tour.
"I don't agree about the wildcard here and about the wildcard in Rome and the other tournaments," Vinci, the 2015 US Open finalist, said.
"She made her mistakes for sure, but she paid and I think she can return to play – but without any wildcards."
However, that was not to be, and if Sharapova makes it to the final in Stuttgart, she will become eligible to play in the qualifying rounds of the French Open, which will then allow the Roland Garros organisers a way out of making the controversial decision on whether to award the former world number one a wildcard for the second Grand Slam of the year.
It will also be interesting to see how well Sharapova plays on return. Not playing competitively for 15 months in such an individual sport is never easy, and it will be remarkable if she finds her old touch immediately.
And on top of that she has an experienced and formidable opponent in Vinci, who will want to prove a point or three of her own, to overcome in the opening round.
When and where to watch live
Sharapova's comeback is set for a not before 10pm IST (6.30pm CET, 5.30pm BST, 12.30pm ET) start. TV and live streaming information.
India: TV: No live coverage.
USA, Australia, France, Middle East: TV: Bein Sports. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
Germany: TV: DAZN. Live Streaming: DAZN Online.
UK and Ireland: TV: BT Sport.
