Maria Sharapova continues to divide opinion on grand slam return

Maria Sharapova is well used to the limelight – on and off court – but the stage lights seemed just that little bit brighter even for the five-time grand slam champion at the US Open earlier this week.

After Sharapova made a winning return to the slams following a 19-month absence – she defeated Simona Halep in an epic encounter Monday – the 30-year-old Russian was asked what she had learned about herself.

“Behind all these Swarovski crystals and little black dresses, this girl has a lot of grit and she’s not going anywhere,” said Sharapova.

However, for many leading figures within the tennis world, Sharapova’s return to the sport’s top table following her doping ban still feels somewhat premature.

“If someone gets caught for doping, this person shouldn’t be helped to come back faster to the top of the game,” Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou told CNN Sport, referring to the United States Tennis Association’s decision to grant Sharapova a wild card to play at Flushing Meadows.

“Part of the punishment is to start from zero, build it up, go to smaller tournaments and do it the hard way,” Mouratoglou explained.

It’s a sentiment shared by former world No. 1 Chris Evert who told CNN Sport after Wimbledon: “I don’t necessarily think that in the grand slams, she should be given a wild card, no.”

Maria Sharapova celebrates her victory over Simona Halep at the US Open.

READ - Maria Sharapova wows US Open crowd in first major match since doping ban

Mouratoglou also touched upon Sharapova’s standing within the players’ locker room.

“A lot of them already said, they’re not really Sharapova fans, she doesn’t speak to the players,” said Mouratoglou.

Perhaps that’s not altogether too surprising. In the past Sharapova has described the women’s locker room as “my least favorite place in the world.”

“It’s tough for me to imagine being friendly and having a friendship with someone and then the next day going out on the court and trying to beat them,” Sharapova explained in an interview with US broadcaster Larry King in 2013. “I don’t think that’s fair.”

It's Maria Sharapova's 'least favorite place in the world"

But locker rooms are where tennis matches can be won and lost ...

Rafael Nadal of Spain poses in the locker room with the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy at Roland Garros in 2014.

As well as a place of preparation for matches, locker rooms are also a perfect setting for posing for photos after winning trophies. Novak Djokovic is pictured holding the Butch Bucholz trophy after winning his fifth Miami Open title in 2015.

As the old saying goes: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is pictured warming up at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai in 2014.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus is pictured at Crandon Park Tennis Center at the Miami Open. Azarenka, who also isn't competing at Roland Garros, recently hinted in a tweet this week she would play at Wimbledon later this year after intending to make her own comeback -- the Belarussian gave birth to son Leo in December and hasn't played since last year's French Open -- at a Wimbledon warmup tournament.

Another absentee from the French Open is Sharapova, who was denied a wild card by the tournament organizers.

Serena Williams will miss the 2017 French Open as she's on maternity leave. Last month her publicist confirmed Serena is expecting a child with her fiance, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and is due to give birth in the fall.

"There is such a thing as locker room power," former British Davis Cup player Arvind Parmar told CNN Sport. Here Frenchman Tsonga of the Manila Mavericks gets ready in the locker room before his team's match against the Singapore Slammers during the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League at the Mall of Asia Arena in November 2014.

Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland is pictured posing with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in the players' dressing room after winning his men's final match against Nadal of Spain at the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

Access is normally restricted to players and coaches only, though exceptions can be made. Real Madrid icons Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Raul are pictured posing with Nadal during the Madrid Masters in May 2010.

Britain's Andy Murray heads back to the locker room after finishing a practice session at Wimbledon.

London's Queen's Club's dressing room decor has a more old school feel.

Success = champagne celebration in the dressing room. Djokovic is pictured celebrating after winning 2008 Australian Open final against Tsonga in 2008.

Switzerland's Roger Federer is filmed by a TV crew holding the Wimbledon trophy as he enters the dressing room after beating Andy Roddick of the US in the 2009 final. Federer has opted not to play at this year's French Open.

Photos: What goes on in tennis locker rooms?

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READ: Tennis locker room confidential

Sharapova is going to need plenty of that grit she talked about as she negotiates the women’s locker room hierarchy.

“I don’t think a cheater at any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” Eugenie Bouchard told Turkish broadcaster TRT World in April, adding that privately she has received plenty of support from figures within the game.

“I would get messages from coaches and players saying ‘wow, I agree with you, I’m so happy you spoke up’ … for me, it’s not about myself, it’s about the sport and the future of the sport,” said the Canadian.

READ: Sharapova beaten by vocal critic Bouchard

Whatever people think about Sharapova’s entry into the US Open, her performance against Halep suggests the Russian will be a force to be reckoned with both at Flushing Meadows and at future slams.

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Just don’t expect her to be discussing the doping ban anytime soon.

“That’s the past.” she said after beating Halep. “We’re past that now.”