Maria Sharapova’s ex-boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov says she deserved her ban for doping
Fellow tennis player, who dated the Russian five-time grand slam champion for two years, had ‘zero doubts’ that she would make a successful return but believes she will be motivated in her comeback
Maria Sharapova’s former boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday suggested she deserved her ban from tennis for a doping offence, an incident that has sent shock waves through the sport.
“I think tennis misses her,” the Bulgarian world No 20 said of the five-time grand slam champion, adding that he had “zero doubts” she would make a successful return.
“As a competitor she’s just going to come back and she’s going to be so hungry to play and excited and motivated,” said Dimitrov, who dated the Russian superstar for two years until they split in July 2015.
But he added: “If you do something, I mean obviously there are circumstances. And whoever does something deserves what he gets for sure.”
Dimitrov was responding to a question about an interview in which Sharapova accused the International Tennis Federation (ITF) of trying to make an example of her by giving her a 24-month ban for testing positive for meldonium.