Maria Sharapova Loses to Ana Ivanovic in Exhibition Match

Russian tennis champion Maria Sharapova was defeated upon her return to tennis on Friday (December 6) as she lost an exhibition match in Bogota, Colombia, to Serb Ana Ivanovic. The 26-year-old Russian had not played since losing to Sloane Stephens in the second round of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati in August. The four-times grand slam winner, who fired coach Jimmy Connors after just one match together following the defeat by Stephens, pulled out of the U.S. Open held in August and September due to inflammation in her right shoulder and later cancelled her appearance at the season ending WTA Championship in Istanbul in October. Sharapova has since hired Sven Groeneveld as her new coach for the 2014 season but lost Friday's match 1-6 6-1 12-10.