PARIS: Maria Sharapova said she had a better perspective on her career after returning to Grand Slam tennis with a win over Belarus's Anastasiya Yakimova in the French Open first round here on Monday.

The Russian former world No 1 was playing in her first Grand Slam match since a second-round loss to compatriot Alla Kudryatseva at last year's Wimbledon before spending almost 10 months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

"I started pretty lousy and even though I was up a break, I wasn't doing the right things and I was letting her play well," Sharapova said after fighting back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.