Former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova is targeting more glory at the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Monday.
The Russian, champion in 2008, was embroiled in yet another controversy when she was invited to the draw ceremony by the organizers of the tournament on Thursday. However, tournament director Craig Tiley defended the decision.
Tiley said: “She’s a former champion at the Australian Open, 10 years ago – like it’s the 30-year anniversary of this great Melbourne Park and Billie Jean King arrived this morning. It is [50 years] since she won. Maria deserved the opportunity.”
Sharapova was banned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) after she tested positive for banned substance Meldonium during the 2016 Aussie Open. The Siberian served a 15-month suspension from the WTA tour before making her return in April last year. Since then, the 30-year-old has clawed her way back up in the rankings to be ranked at No. 47 at present.
Upon her comeback to the tour, Sharapova wasn’t received well by her fellow players with former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard terming her as a ‘cheat’. Despite being a former two-time champion, the French Open denied her a wildcard whereas the US Open’s decision to offer her a wildcard entry was heavily criticized.
Not counting her recent setbacks, Sharapova remains positive about her own performance in the event in Melbourne.
“There’s no easy way to get to the top,” Sharapova told Australian Open’s official website ausopen.com
“The drive, I still have it. I certainly will hope I put myself in that position,” Sharapova said. “I put a lot of expectations on myself because I have been there, and I have delivered in those moments. I expect to continue to do so.”
“After being away for such a long time, there are adjustments,” she said. “They haven’t come easily. I have to back off sometimes and say this will take time. I never contemplated retiring but when I was a teenager I never thought I’d play past 30 years old. I thought I’d win a few tournaments and then have a family. And here I am in a sport that has given me so much – and I hope to have a family too.”
