Maria Sharapova’s return to the tour has hit a minor blip after she was pictured with an ice pack strapped to her left ankle.
According to the Daily Mail, the photos were taken shortly after the Russian concluded a training session. The ice pack was shown attached to the back of Sharapova’s ankle as she walked out of her car. It is unlikely that the issue is severe as she was seen carrying a bag into her house.
@MariaSharapova after yesterday’s practise. She has something on her left ankle… I just hope it’s nothing serious 😕 pic.twitter.com/Ty1cpRU8ds
— Sharapova Daily (@SharapovaDaily) 28 March 2017
The former world No.1 has previously suffered from ankle problems. During the 2011 WTA Finals she was forced to withdraw from the tournament after injuring her ankle at the Tokyo Open. The issue also forced Sharapova to miss her first tournament of the 2012 season.
There has been no formal comment from the Sharapova camp regarding the issue and there is no evidence that it will impact on her return date. On Monday she retweeted a post on Twitter which marked a month until her comeback, suggesting that she is still on schedule.
Sharapova is currently serving a 15-month suspension from the tour after testing positive for meldonium. Her first tournament of the year will be in Germany at the Stuttgart Open, which will start on April 24th. The Russian has triggered a fierce debate after being granted a wildcard into the tournament. Officials have allowed her to play her first match on the third day of the tournament, the same day her ban ends. Prior to that date, Sharapova is prohibited from entering the grounds of a WTA event.
Some players have called for the WTA to re-evaluate their wildcard policy for doping violators. Sharapova is eligible for unlimited passes due to being a former world No.1 and a grand slam champion. Andy Murray recently told The Times that doping violators should be forced to work their way back on the tour. Dominika Cibulkova, a vocal critic of Sharapova, has also voiced a similar statement.
WTA boss Steve Simon has said the policy will only be looked at if ‘members wish us to look at the rule.’ A response that has been met with a mixed reception.
