Sharapova vows to bounce back after snub

Paris – Maria Sharapova vowed to “rise up again” yesterday after she was refused a wildcard for the French Open following her 15-month ban for doping.

The Russian former world No 1 also earned the backing of the head of women’s tennis, a day after the French tennis federation’s announcement that it would not grant her a wildcard for the event she won in 2012 and 2014.

“If this is what it takes to rise up again, then I am in it all the way, everyday,” Sharapova wrote on Twitter.

“No words or actions will ever stop me from reaching my own dreams. And I have many.”

The five-time Grand Slam champion, 30, was banned for two years for using meldonium, with the penalty later reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), which ruled she was not an intentional doper.

After the ban expired last month she returned to competition at the Stuttgart Open, reaching the semifinals, and progressed to the last-32 of the Madrid Open, failing to earn a qualifying spot for Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the season.

Many of Sharapova’s rivals have hit out at other tournaments giving her preferential treatment, but WTA chief executive Steve Simon called the actions of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) “groundless”, in a strongly worded statement backing her.

Whilst acknowledging that wildcards were granted at a tournament’s discretion, Simon said: “What I do not agree with is the basis put forward by the FFT for their decision with respect to Maria Sharapova.”

Announcing the FFT’s decision, president Bernard Giudicelli said giving Sharapova a wildcard would make a nonsense of authorities’ efforts against doping.

But Simon said: “She has complied with the sanction imposed by Cas. The tennis anti-doping program (TADP) is a uniform effort supported by the Grand Slams, WTA, ITF and ATP. “There are no grounds for any member of the TADP to penalise any player beyond the sanctions set forth in the final decisions resolving these matters.”

Sharapova is guaranteed a qualifying spot at Wimbledon in July after winning her opening match at the Rome Masters, although she missed a chance at direct entrance into the main draw after a second-round exit.

Sharapova, whose ranking has plummeted to 211 leaving her reliant on wildcards, could have earned her spot at Wimbledon by reaching the semifinals in Italy but retired against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the final set with a thigh injury.