London: Maria Sharapova's return to tennis wouldn't be a very happy one, Australian star and former US Open champion Samantha Stosur has predicted.

Unlike Billie Jean King, who will welcome the Russian star back to the sport after serving her suspension imposed for testing positive for a banned substance, Stosur believes that Sharapova will not receive much support in the professional circuit.

Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion and world No. 18, says that Sharapova will not be welcomed back into the locker room.

"I've spoken to a few people and we all seem to have the same idea," the Australian said. "I wouldn't imagine there's a whole lot of support from the playing group."

Sharapova was suspended after a positive test for meldonium at the Australian Open in January but had her ban reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) from two years to 15 months, meaning that she could return to the women's tour before the French Open in May.

Stosur added that she was amazed the CAS had accepted Sharapova's explanation that she carried on using meldonium after it was outlawed on January 1 because she had not properly been made aware of the change. "I can't believe it," Stosur said. "I think it's remarkable that you can use that excuse and get away with it. It really sets a bad precedent for athletes moving forward where you can almost put your hands up and say, 'It was not my fault'."

King will host Sharapova at the World Team Tennis Smash Hits event at Caesars Palace.

Sharapova will play in Vegas alongside John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova, Mardy Fish, Mark Philippoussis and Liezel Huber. Proceeds from the evening will go to the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Sharapova had stirred more controversy last week with her charge that the International Tennis Federation wanted to make an example of her in her doping case. "I got a 24-month suspension, but they (the ITF) wanted four years for me," Sharapova said in an interview with an US broadcaster. The ITF officials, however, denied the claim.

Sharapova had also claimed that she wasn't convinced the drug meldonium, newly banned this year by the World Anti-Doping Agency, enhances performance.

"I think the one thing that I'd love to see - and if anyone could show me - is evidence on the performance-enhancing effect that it has," she told the US sports network.

King, in support of Sharapova, had earlier tweeted. "Important to put this behind us for tennis and Maria. Look forward to her return to the WTA Tour@wta."

Navratilova's tweet on Sharapova was: "A big price to pay for a big mistake, it will still be hard to come back for Maria. But we know how tough she is..."

(Agencies)