ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU CRINGE
Aussies put Sharapova on parade ...but fail to mention the doping ban
Former champion maria Sharapova was invited to parade the women’s trophy for the Australian open draw ceremony, and in a cringeworthy interview the host TV broadcaster tiptoed around what was referred to as her ‘time out’.
Paxman it was not. Two years after she tested positive for meldonium at melbourne Park, the 30-year-old russian was back, having been forcibly absent in 2017 as she served her 15-month suspension.
Wildcards on demand, four straight appearances on court at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at September’s US open, and now this. It is true that Sharapova has a rare pulling power — especially when Serena Williams is indisposed — but small wonder that the outside world looks on and questions whether tennis takes anti-doping seriously enough.
Wheeling her out had all the graciousness of monday’s final Ashes presentation in Sydney, with giant hands pointing out the 4-0 scoreline.
It was a strangely tin-eared call for such an expertly-run event, and tournament director Craig Tiley was forced to defend the invitation later. He referred to the non-availability of female former winners who could follow roger Federer on to the margaret Court Arena to be interviewed in front of the public.
‘We wanted to have a former champion,’ he said. ‘The challenge we always have this week is there is the (concurrent) Sydney event, the Hobart event and other events. As part of the tradition, we have the former champions.
‘In fairness to maria, the adjudication has occurred on that (her offence). She’s a former champion at the Australian open. She deserved the opportunity.’
We await to see if she will next week take up residence on the main rod Laver Arena as she did on the equivalent in New York, although she could be involved in two big matches early on.
After opening against Germany’s Tatjana maria she might face the player who beat her at Flushing meadows, Anastasija Sevastova, and potentially after that former world No 1 Angelique Kerber in the third round.
Tiley also had to address the issue of players possibly expressing their disapproval, or even non-compliance, when it comes to playing on the secondary arena named after margaret Court.
The former Australian great has been an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage, in a country which voted in favour of legitimising it only in November. ‘ I’ve talked to all the players right throughout the year,’ said Tiley. ‘There’s been no pushback from the players. They are here ready to play. We are very proud of our sport, it’s one of the most diverse, most inclusive sports there is.
‘We are in constant communication with the players and they are ready to play on all three (main) arenas.’
It helps that Court has declined an invitation to attend, preferring instead to stay in her native Western Australia and go on holiday fishing for crabs. She explained herself last week, telling melbourne’s Herald Sun: ‘I don’t run from things, I face them. I decided not to come across this year and do more crabbing.’
Asked what she would think of any potential boycott, she responded: ‘I think that’s very childish — but that’s not up to me and it doesn’t affect me.’
The draw put Jo Konta, who has made the quarters and semifinals in the past two years, up against world No 92 American madison Brengle in the first round. She could meet No 6 seed Karolina Pliskova in the fourth.
Heather Watson, who has been in fine form at the event in Hobart, drew Kazakhstan’s pocket battleship Yulia Putintseva.
Federer will face former British player Aljaz Bedene as the 36-year-old begins the defence of his title from last year. Bedene has reverted to representing his native Slovenia after failing to gain permission to play in the Davis Cup for GB, despite being a joint citizen.
In the absence of Andy murray, who yesterday posted a picture of himself at a seaside restaurant having lunch with his team following surgery, Kyle edmund will be the only GB man in the draw after Cam Norrie was knocked out of qualifying by Australian John-Patrick Smith 6-4, 6-2. The draw did edmund few favours, pitting him in the first round against US open finalist Kevin Anderson, who beat him in five sets at roland Garros last year.
Djokovic — seeded 14th as he has not played since Wimbledon due to elbow issues — faces a difficult second round against Gael monfils.
World No 1 rafael Nadal got an easy start against Dominican veteran Victor estrella Burgos.
Nadal is in the same half as ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov, who could face a huge fourth round against 17th seed Nick Kyrgios. The Australian is fresh from winning the Brisbane International, where he beat Dimitrov in the semi-final.