Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova has won her first title for over two years after she defeated Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 7-5 7-6 (10-8) to win the Tianjin Open in China.

Sharapova, 30, won her first title since she came back from a 15-month drug ban in April.

She won the final against his teenage opponent in two hours and five minutes to secure her 36th WTA tournament victory and a first since the Italian Open in May 2015 (some two years and five months).

The 5-time Grand Slam champion was given a wildcard for the event in China and victory means she would move up from 86th to number 57 in the world rankings.