It has been almost a year since Maria Sharapova made her return to competition following a doping ban, yet it still inspires its share of intrigue and discussion.  That was the case coming into Indian Wells and following her opening-round loss to Naomi Osaka in the desert, some are starting to seriously question whether the Russian can recapture her championship form.

The questions stem in large part from the fact that her comeback has not gone as well as she would have liked, or some might have expected.  Fans have seen others, such as Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, quickly climb back up the ranks following long hiatuses, and given her status in the sport, it was natural Sharapova might be expected to do the same.  It was not as though her absence was due to any physical injury, and as one of the few women who could previously be banked upon to regularly make the business-end of tournaments, there were high expectations that she would return to the upper echelons in record time.  That has obviously not been the case, but to be fair to the Russian, various injuries have cropped up that have inhibited her ability to gain as much traction as she would have liked.  Furthermore, what transpired with Williams and Nadal is more of an exception than the norm, as most players require match play to get back into the groove.

As understandable as Sharapova's comparably slower progress may be, however, it does present her with complications.  Few if any have received as warm of a welcome back following a fifteen-month doping ban.  Many of her fans and sponsors stuck by her throughout the suspension.  A number of members from the media still viewed her as one of their darlings, and it seems most tournament directors could not move fast enough to hand her a wild card.  That goodwill only lasts so long though, and it came because of what she had accomplished prior to her suspension.  If she cannot start producing the results at the more prestigious events that once took her to the top, that well of generosity could run dry.

In addition to that, it is important to note that there is a whole host of detractors out there who have never bought Sharapova's explanation for her use of meldonium and have voiced their anger at the red-carpet treatment she received upon returning to tennis.  Even while acknowledging that the clear majority of her time using the drug was legal, it is easy to see where her decision to not disclose its use to officials and most members of her team could be construed as recognizing that she was doing something unethical.  Her pattern of use also suggested it was for performance-enhancement purposes, as well as her evasiveness about whether she has found a substitute for it.  As a result, many are pointing at any of her unusual or lopsided losses since her return and citing them as proof that she has needed the meldonium to get her through to the finish line throughout her career.  Sharapova may have a reputation for being an ice queen, who does not care what others think, but that is an easier stance to take when winning.  She is likely not completely immune to the whispers and may feel a need to silence them by returning to the top as soon as possible.

As for the meldonium use itself, that also presents Sharapova with a mental hurdle.  Only she knows her truest motivations for taking the drug but be it for her litany of stated health issues or to enhance her own performance is irrelevant.  In either case, it provided her with the comfort of knowing that it helped ensure she was ready to physically perform.  If she has not found a suitable substitute, then she may be questioning her own ability to go the distance and string together victories at the big tournaments, and that could prove to be the greatest challenge to her in her return.

So, is time to panic just because it has been eleven months and a player of Sharapova's caliber and experience is still ranked outside of the Top 40?  Probably not.  History has shown that it is dangerous to count out any megastar of the game, especially one who has a reputation for a being a fighter like Sharapova.  But with each passing tournament without a notable result, her climb back towards the top will only get tougher.  For that reason, she is in definite need of making something happen sooner rather than later.