Sharapova gets shot at a Grand return

U.S. Open extends wild card to the Russian star who was banned 15 months for doping

NEW YORK— Maria Sharapova was granted a wildcard invitation for the U.S. Open’s main draw on Tuesday and will take part in a Grand Slam event for the first time in more than a year and a half.

Sharapova is among eight women given entry into the 128-player field by the U.S. Tennis Association — and by far the most noteworthy.

The former No.1-ranked player and owner of five major titles, including the 2006 U.S. Open, has not entered a major tournament since the 2016 Australian Open, when she tested positive for the newly banned drug meldonium.

That led to a 15-month doping ban, which expired in April. Upon her return, her ranking — now 148th — was too low to allow entry into major tournaments. The French Open denied her a wild card. A left thigh injury led to the 30-year-old Sharapova skipping grass-court events, including Wimbledon qualifying.

The USTA said it was following past practice of granting them to former U.S. Open champions who needed them, such as Martina Hingis, Lleyton Hewitt, Kim Cljisters and Juan Martin del Potro.

“Her suspension under the terms of the tennis anti-doping program was completed and therefore was not one of the factors weighed in our wild-card selection process,” the USTA said in a statement.

The U.S. Open starts in Flushing Meadows on Aug. 28.

LACHLAN CUNNINGHAM/GETTY IMAGES Maria Sharapova received a wild card to the U.S. Open on Tuesday. The tournament has often extended this courtesy to past champions.