For the first time in 19 months, Maria Sharapova walked on court for a Grand Slam match, this time under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium to a warm reception on a cool Monday night.
She wore a black dress and a look of determination, just as she did on the night in 2006 when she beat Justine Henin-Hardenne to win her only United States Open title.
This was only a first-round match, but it had a marquee feel. Sharapova, the five-time Grand Slam champion who received a wild-card berth while still rebuilding her ranking after a suspension for drug use, was pitted against Simona Halep, the No.