Caroline Wozniacki has branded the decision to award Maria Sharapova a wildcard into next month’s Stuttgart Open as ‘disrespectful’ following her second round win at the BNP Paribas Open.
The former world No.1 weighed in on the highly debated topic shortly after breezing past Poland’s Magda Linette 6-3, 6-0. Speaking about Sharapova’s return to the game, Wozniacki described the Russian as a ‘good draw to tennis.’ On the other hand, the two-time US Open finalist has criticised officials at the Stuttgart Open. The German tournament has agreed to give Sharapova a wildcard and let her play her first match on the Wednesday, the same day her ban ends.
“I think it’s very questionable, allowing — no matter who it is — a player that is still banned to play a tournament that week. I think that’s — from the tournament side, I think it’s disrespectful to the other players and the WTA.” Said Wozniacki.
“But, you know, it is what it is. Obviously rules are twisted and turned in favor of who wants to do what.”
Sharapova is currently prohibited from entering the grounds of any WTA tournament until Wednesday, April 26th. The flexibility of the Stuttgart tournament is unsurprising. The former grand slam champion is a three-time winner at the event and, like the tournament, she is also sponsored by Porsche. US Open champion Angelique Kerber have also questioned the move taken by her home tournament. The top seed at this week’s Indian Wells tournament has described the situation as ‘strange.’
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has supported Stuttgart’s decision regarding Sharapova’s pass. Contacted directly by Ubitennis, the governing body confirmed that no rules has actually been broken by the tournament.
“Under the rules of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, Sharapova is entitled to return to competition on April 26, the Wednesday of the Stuttgart tournament.” The ITF told Ubitennis.net in January.
“The wording of the rule does not require the tournament to start after a ban ends.”
Calls to remove wildcard’s from drug cheats
The ongoing debate about rewarding wildcard’s to players who has been convicted of doping offences has placed Sharapova’s French Open appearance in jeopardy. Wozniacki, who has played the Russian ten times on the WTA Tour, believes doping violators should be made to work their way back into the tour.
“I feel like when a player is banned for drugs, I think that someone should start from the bottom and fight their way back, because it’s different from an injury where someone is out because they had hurt themselves. That way I feel like a player should be able to receive as many wildcards.” She said.
“But when someone has been banned for drugs and something that is performance enhancing, I think that you deserve a second chance like everybody else, people make mistakes, but I think you should fight your way back from the bottom.”
Wozniacki’s comments are ones that mirror Andy Murray, who recently called for the removal of wildcard’s for drug cheats.
This year’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will start on April 24th. It is categorized as a WTA Premier event and will feature at least eight top-10 players.
