Maria, full of pace Tennis boss in talks to bring big-hitting Sharapova back to NZ
Federer talks also under way
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 stated they won’t give her one.
It’s unlikely by the time of January’s Auckland tournament that Sharapova will need a wildcard, but Budge is willing to offer her one if that’s what it takes for her to return to the Classic.
‘‘I suspect she’ll be back within not needing a wildcard territory by the end of the year,’’ Budge said.
‘‘A lot of people will give her wildcards over the next few months and I don’t think she’s coming back to be No 45 in the world.
‘‘She’ll want to win Grand Slams and get to the top of the world rankings, you’re going to see a very motivated Maria.’’
I’ve had a chat to a number of player agents and Maria’s is one of them. There’s an interest there for sure and an appetite.
While Sharapova failed a doping test at last year’s Australian Open, she’s hardly in the same category of drugs cheats that Lance Armstrong is in.
She had been taking meldonium for 10 years and according to her, didn’t realise it had been added to the banned substances list a few weeks before the Australian Open.
However, Sharapova was not the most popular player on the women’s circuit and so she’s found few players willing to support her in her comeback.
Sharapova played at the Classic in 2011 and made it to the quarterfinals.
As well as talking to Sharapova, Budge is looking to make the 2018 field as strong as this year’s one was.
He hasn’t closed the door on Serena Williams returning, while he’s already had good discussions with tournament regulars Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki.
‘‘We’ve got more than the normal tournament director/player relationship with those two,’’ Budge said.
‘‘It’s great to know that the starting point in talks with them is that they’d love to come.
‘‘It doesn’t take away from the dollars conversation, but they’ll be top of the mind when it comes to what players we want next year.’’
Budge said he’ll pursue Roger Federer again for and is willing to even stage an exhibition match for the 18-time Grand Slam winner if he doesn’t want to play in the actual Classic.
‘‘I think it’s unlikely for him to play in the tournament proper, but we are having a chat to his team to see what else we can do,’’ Budge said.
‘‘I’d like to see him in Auckland in some shape or form. It’s been a goal of mine for a long time and I’ll keep working away on it.
‘‘I’m working hard to see if he can play the tournament or do something else.
‘‘I’m going in with a blank piece of paper to see what we can make work and what might be appealing to make the financials stack up.’’
Federer doesn’t play in a tournament before the Australian Open, but has taken part in exhibition matches in Sydney and it’s possible he could squeeze one in in Auckland on the Sunday between the men’s and women’s tournaments.
‘‘I’m not ruling out anything at this stage. I want Roger Federer in Auckland in whatever capacity that is,’’ Budge said.
‘‘We’ve got to keep having those conversations with his team, they know where we are and that there’s a real appetite for him to come.’’
Karl Budge