EXCLUSIVE

THE ASB Classic is chasing controversial figure Maria Sharapova for next year’s tennis tournament.

The former world No 1 completes her 15-month ban for failing a drugs test next month and debate has been raging from players and tournament organisers about whether she should be given main draw wildcards to help her get back to the top.

Classic tournament director, Karl Budge has spent the past week at the events in Indian Wells and Miami talking to top players and agents and confirmed that Sharapova is on his hit list.

‘‘I’ve had a chat to a number of player agents and Maria’s is one of them,’’ Budge said from Miami.

‘‘There’s an interest there for sure and an appetite. She’s part of our thinking for next year and it will be interesting to see how she does when she comes back in Stuttgart.

‘‘We’ll have more conversations over the next couple of months.’’

As Sharapova has spent 15 months out of the game, she doesn’t have any ranking points, so she should have to battle her way up by first playing tiny ITF tournaments.

However, while some tournaments have looked to capitalise on her popularity by offering her wildcards, all of the UK tournaments in the lead-up to Wimbledon have