Maria Sharapova has been handed a wildcard entry to the US Open and will appear at a Grand Slam for the first time since her drugs ban.

The Russian was banned for 15 months after testing positive for banned substance Meldonium and she returned to action in April.

Sharapova was denied a wildcard for the French Open but was handed one for Wimbledon qualifying, although she had to pull out after picking up an injury.

The 30-year-old, who won the US Open in 2006, will now be gearing up for an assault on the final Grand Slam of the campaign when it gets underway at Flushing Meadows on August 28.

The five-time Grand Slam champion is currently nursing a forearm injury and had to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open this week but it’s expected that Sharapova will recover in time for the US Open.