TREBLE SNAKEBITE

THE French Open has sensationally snubbed Maria Sharapova’s wildcard request – and claimed inviting the Russian superstar would have sent out the wrong message in the war against drugs.

Now Wimbledon will come under huge pressure not to offer the convicted doping offender a wildcard into the main draw at SW19.

With Serena Williams and Roger Federer already out of Roland Garros, organisers were expected to offer two-times champion Sharapova an invite into qualifying next week.

But in a stinging statement, French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli insisted the tournament was bigger than any player and said a wildcard could not be given after a doping ban.

He said: “I cannot deprive her of the titles obtained but I cannot grant her the requested wildcard. You can get a wildcard when you return from injury but not when returning from a doping suspension.

“I know this decision could disappoint people but the tournament at Roland Garros has invested a lot – with the other Grand Slam tournaments and the ATP and WTA – in the fight against doping. I am sorry for Maria and her fans.

“It is my responsibility to protect the game and the high standards of playing without any doping. The tournament is bigger than the players.”

The Russian needed to reach the semis of this week’s Rome Masters to gain entry into the main draw at Wimbledon but last night withdrew injured in the third set of her second-round match with Mirjana Luci-Baroni.

Meanwhile, British men’s No.3 Aljaz Bedene put in a battling effort against Novak Djokovic before falling to a 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 second-round defeat.