French decision on Sharapova in May

Maria Sharapova will learn on May 15 whether she can compete at the French Open after her drugs ban, French tennis officials said on Thursday, insisting the absence of pregnant Serena Williams would have no bearing on their decision.

Two-time Roland Garros champion Sharapova controversially returns next week from a 15-month drugs ban at the WTA Stuttgart Grand Prix.

Stuttgart offered the 30year-old Russian a wildcard entry because she no longer has a world ranking. She has also been invited to claycourt events in Madrid and Rome.

Whether she receives a wildcard for Roland Garros will be revealed just a week before qualifying begins for the May 28-June 11 Grand Slam.

French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said in March the body faced a moral dilemma and he hinted he was against it.

If Sharapova misses out, the French Open will go ahead in the absence of the two biggest drawcards in the women’s game, with Williams announcing on Wednesday the end of her season due to pregnancy.

“Williams and Sharapova are two unconnected cases,” said Giudicelli. “We’re staging a Grand Slam, not a casting.”

If the federation decides not to offer Sharapova a wildcard, she still has a chance of making Roland Garros via the qualifiers, but for that she must pick up enough points by winning or making the final in Stuttgart.

Sharapova had an initial twoyear suspension by the International Tennis Federation cut to 15 months after she tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.