Drug-cheat Sharapova: The big return
Maria Sharapova was victorious on her comeback from a 15-month doping ban at the Stuttgart Open yesterday
MARIA Sharapova made a winning return to tennis last night on the day her 15month drug ban ended.
The five-time Grand Slam winner beat Italian Roberta Vinci in straight sets after she was given a wildcard to compete in the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
Miss Sharapova, 0, rushed to the centre of the court to blow kisses to the crowd following her victory, which she hailed as ‘the best feeling in the world’.
She had received a polite reaction from the sellout 4,000-strong crowd and was not booed, despite her return being controversial – beginning only nine hours after the ban elapsed.
World number five Simona Halep said: ‘In my opinion, for kids and young players, it’s not OK to help with wildcards the players who were banned for doping.’
Speaking on court after she beat Miss Vinci 7-5, 6- , the Russian said: ‘Walking back out there was special.
‘I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I felt I had to grow as a person and I think I’ve done that. I’m a competitor, that’s when I’m at my best.’
The star was initially handed a two-year ban last January by the International Tennis Federation for taking the banned heart medication meldonium, but it was reduced to 15 months in October following an appeal.
The champagne corks will not be popping within the women’s locker room, but those in the inner sanctum will have to get used to having Maria Sharapova back.
On the exact day that her 15month doping ban expired, the five-times Grand Slam champion served notice that she will once again be a force by beating world No 36 Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-3 in just under an hour and three quarters.
Sharapova took advantage of her controversial wildcard for the Stuttgart Grand Prix with sufficient aplomb to suggest that she might even make the French Open and Wimbledon under her own steam, without the need for any further charity.
‘It was the best feeling in the world, I have been waiting for this moment for a long time,’ said the 30-year-old Russian, who later reverted to best ice-queen mode to answer less gushing questions.
Asked what she is now using as a substitute for the Mildronate that earned her the ban, and which she has insisted was so important for her general health, she replied: ‘That information is between myself, the WTA and the orthopaedic doctor I am working with.’
With eugenie Bouchard the latest of her peers to verbally assail her, she reasoned: ‘I can’t control what people say.’
For Sharapova last night was a promising start to her campaign to play at the French Open and Wimbledon, through qualifying if necessary.
‘I think I would be prepared to play in the juniors if I had to,’ she said. ‘everyone knows what a competitor I am and I won’t take anything for granted.’
As for the criticism of someone getting wildcards after a doping ban, she responded: ‘I’m coming here with no ranking. I’m not getting a wildcard to receive a trophy or a golden platter.’ The nearest she strayed from guarded diplomacy was when she made no attempt to distance herself from her agent, Max eisenbud’s remarks, about Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska, in which he described them as ‘journeyman players’. She almost seemed to endorse them.
‘I don’t control my manager’s words,’ she said. ‘he has been watching everyone’s comments in the last 15 months and he is entitled to his own opinion.’ even Wozniacki and Radwanska have not gone as far as Bouchard did last night on social media.
Describing Sharapova as a ‘cheater’, she said: ‘I think from the WTA it sends the wrong message to young kids — “Cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms”.’
Vinci was reasonably generous. ‘She played a high level,’ she said. ‘But then she hasn’t been out with an injury, she has been practising a lot at home. She was very focused on every point.’ her serve was especially strong, and while she pressed too hard on her forehand at times it also delivered a welter of winners and her ear-splitting shriek filled the venue.
Understandably tight in the first set, Sharapova only converted two of eight break points.
But she wreaked havoc with her aggressive returning and always looked the likely winner after recovering from a 2-0 deficit.
If there was a weakness it was her movement on the speedy indoor clay court, resembling a novice on roller skates at times, but that will get better.
At the end she stood on the baseline, bent over in delight.The next stage is today’s match against ekaterina Makarova. earlier Jo Konta had overcome Japan’s Naomi Osaka 7-6, 3-6, 6-1. It was a decent result, having only arrived on Monday afternoon after what was a traumatic Fed Cup match in Romania at the weekend, although she was aided by Osaka straining a stomach muscle towards the end.
The world No 7 now meets Latvian Anastasija Sevastova this afternoon for a place in the quarter-finals.
In the Barcelona ATP Tour event, Andy Murray received an unexpected day of rest when his second-round opponent, Bernard Tomic, withdrew due to a bad back. he faces Spain’s Feliciano Lopez today.