It has been reported that former world No.1 Maria Sharapova will not be given a wildcard into the main draw at next month’s French Open, according to The Telegraph.
This week will see Sharapova return to the tour at the Stuttgart Open after serving a 15-month doping ban. The Russian has already been the recipient of numerous passes for tournaments in Germany, Spain and Italy. Despite the trio of tournaments welcoming her to their events, officials at Roland Garros had previously expressed concern.
“It’s complicated. We prefer that she returns completely rehabilitated,” French tennis chief Bernard Giudicelli told the AFP earlier this year.
“Integrity is one of our strong points. We cannot decide, on the one hand, to increase the amount of funds we dedicate to the anti-doping battle and, on the other, invite her.”
According to sources close to The Telegraph, Sharapova will instead be granted an entry into the qualifying draw as a compromise. Such move would generate big publicity for the French Open a week before the main tournament gets underway. Despite her absence from the tour, Sharapova has maintained a loyal fan base.
Sharapova could potentially avoid playing qualifying if she defies the odds and win this week’s Stuttgart Open, a premier event. There still have been no confirmation from Paris over Sharapova’s wildcard situation with an official announcement expected on May 15th.
The outcome of the decision by French tennis officials will be carefully monitored by The All England Tennis Club, who decides on passes for the Wimbledon Championships. If Sharapova wants to secure entry into the grass court major, she needs to accumulate at least 600 points over the next four weeks.
Wildcard criticism continues
Due to her ban, Sharapova is prohibited from entering the grounds of a WTA event until Wednesday. She is training this week’s tournament at the Sportverein Sillenbuch tennis club, located at the south of Stuttgart.
Since the confirmation of her wildcard for Stuttgart, some players on the tour has criticised the move. Opponents have argued that it is unfair to reward somebody who has been sanctioned for doping and to allow them to play their first match the same day that their ban ends. One of those critics include Italy’s Roberta Vinci, who will be Sharapova’s first round opponent.
‘I don’t agree about the wildcard here and about the wildcard in Rome and the other tournaments,’ said Vinci. ‘I don’t have anything against her. She made her mistakes for sure, but she paid and I think she can return to play, but without any wildcards, any help.
‘Probably she would play two or three tournaments and be in the top 30 for sure. Probably there are a lot of players who are agreeing with me about the wildcard.’
Sharapova, who is a three-time champion in Stuttgart, could play world No.8 Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round.
Updated list with quotes from players who’ve talked about Sharapova’s WCs. Lots of mixed opinions from both the ATP and WTA sides. pic.twitter.com/e1HZBT47zr
— José Morais (@ZezeAM) 21 April 2017
