Sharapova lights it up in return

Maria Sharapova of Russia serves to Italy's Roberta Vinci en route to a 7-5, 6-3 victory in the Grand Prix tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, on April 26, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

"I can't control what people say, all I can is what I do out there, they are my words and I prefer to walk the walk and I have done it by winning five Grand Slam titles," she told a packed media conference.

"Words, quotes and articles are not what matter in life. I have learned that very well in the last year.

"I'm coming back. There was 200 (media) credentials given at this event, and there's news around it, but the only thing that matters is what happens on the court."

The Russian said there is no lingering anger about her ban.

"I am not an individual who gets angry about things, I let things go quickly," she said.

Vinci was one of those who said Sharapova should not have been given a wild card in Stuttgart, but Sharapova made it clear she will make no effort to build bridges in the locker room at tournaments with anyone who criticized her.

"I don't spend too much time there (locker room), I do my job and I will go in there, I'll change, get my stuff and I'm out of there," she said.

"I have a great amount of friends at home, all over the world, who I speak to, and those friendships matter to me much more, with my family and friends."