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Maria Sharapova will return to tennis in April after serving a 15-month drug ban. Photo: AP
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Andy Murray lashes out as Maria Sharapova is handed Rome wild card

Men’s world No 1 critical of glamorous Russian’s ‘cushioned’ return from drug ban

Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse
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Five-time grand slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova has been given a wild card to play in the Italian Open in May, organisers said on Wednesday.

The former world number one makes her return to the circuit in Stuttgart in April after completing a 15-month ban for doping.

“We officially announce the wild card for the 3-time Rome champion @MariaSharapova into the main draw ... ” organisers announced on Twitter.

Sharapova hasn’t played on tour since testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. An initial two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation was reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Rome tournament runs from May 15 to May 21. She has also been handed a wild card for the May 6-13 Madrid Open.
Andy Murray said he believed players returning from drug bans should be made to earn their way back through effort, rather than public appeal. Photo: AFP

However, the decision to hand the Russian wild cards into three of Europe’s prestigious clay-court events was criticised by men’s world number one Andy Murray.

“I think you should really have to work your way back,” Murray told The Times.

“But most tournaments will do what they think is best for their event. If they think big names will sell more seats, they’re going to do that.”

Murray refused to elaborate on his standpoint on Wednesday after reaching the quarter-finals of the Dubai ATP event.

“I spoke about it yesterday and made my opinion pretty clear,” said Murray. “I have been answering questions on this honestly for over a year now, and I don’t know what else I’m supposed to say.”
Roger Federer played a cautious line on Maria Sharapova’s return. Photo: AFP

Former world number one and 18-time grand slam champion Roger Federer was also reluctant to get involved in the Sharapova controversy after suffering a shock second-round 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/5) exit at the hands of Russian world number 116 Evgeny Donskoy in Dubai.

“Could see it either way, depending on who you are, and I don’t know if it matters what the cause was for being banned, because at the end, it’s all sort of the same. Banned is banned, you know,” said the 35-year-old Swiss.

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