Maria Sharapova says she has tried hard to ignore criticism from players and pundits following her return to tennis after a drugs ban.

The 30-year-old served a 15-month suspension after admitting taking a banned substance, making her return at the Stuttgart Open in April in the face of strong opposition.

The five-time Grand Slam champion was handed a wildcard for the WTA event in Germany, much to the frustration of some of her peers, Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki claiming she should not just be allowed to walk back on to the tour, while Eugenie Bouchard labelled her a "cheater".

Sharapova is now gearing up to make her return to action in the Bank of the West Classic next week having missed the whole grass court season through injury and ahead of her latest comeback she has finally responded to the criticism she received following her ban.

Writing in the Players' Tribune, the Russian said: "I'm aware of what many of my peers have said about me, and how critical of me some of them have been in the press.

"If you're a human being with a normal, beating heart, you know.. I don't think that sort of thing will ever fully be possible to ignore. And I don't think it will ever not be weird or hurtful to go through.

"But at the same time I've always tried to keep a generous attitude toward critics in general - whoever they are, and whenever they've been there. I've never wanted to respond to the people trashing me by trashing them back; that's always been important to me.

"I've always wanted to respond by showing grace - something I learned from my mom, one of the most graceful and elegant people I know. I've always wanted to face my critics by simply taking the high road. And by showing them, by showing everyone, that taking the high road is a choice."