Murray hits out at wild cards

Scot believes Sharapova and other doping offenders do not deserve favours

Andy Murray does not think Maria Sharapova or other doping offenders should be given wild cards into tournaments but understands why the Russian is being welcomed back.

The five-time grand slam champion will be unranked when she makes her return from a 15-month doping ban next month.

She has already been guaranteed wild cards into tournaments in Stuttgart – her first match will be the day her ban runs out on April 26 – Madrid and Rome.

The Russian will definitely need a wild card to play at the French Open and, unless she does very well at her come back tournaments, is likely to face a similar situation at Wimbledon.

The All England Club will no doubt be hoping Sharapova earns her place by right, for if she does not it faces a tricky decision.

Not giving entry to a former champion would be a big call, but being seen to support a player who has served a doping suspension would also be controversial.

Tennis has come under fire for its anti-doping practices, and tournaments and governing bodies have been keen to stress their strong stance on the issue.

Murray is one of the sport’s most hardline critics of doping offenders, and he told The Times: “I think you should really have to work your way back.”

But the world no 1 has not been surprised to see Sharapova invited to play at tournaments, with the Russian one of tennis’ biggest stars.

He added: “The majority of tournaments are going to do what they think is best for their event. If they think having big names there is going to sell more seats, then they’re going to do that.

“She (Sharapova) has an opportunity to try to improve her ranking and potentially not need a wild card (for Wimbledon).

“But then if she doesn’t, that becomes Wimbledon’s decision and how they want to play that. I’m sure they’ll think long and hard about it and how they feel people will view it and then make the right decision for them.”

Murray, meanwhile, cruised through to the third round of the Dubai Duty Free Championships with a swift victory over 97th-ranked Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

The Spaniard had won their last meeting in Indian Wells five years ago but there was no sniff of an upset here as Murray eased to a 6-2 6-0 win to set up a clash with German Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Seven-time Dubai champion Roger Federer suffered a shock exit when he lost his clash with Evgeny Donskoy 6-3 6-7 6-7.

Another seeded player fell as Robin Haase rallied from a set down to oust no 5 Tomas Berdych 3-6 6-3 6-4 but seventh seed Lucas Pouille kept up his good run of form, defeating qualifier Marius Copil 6-1 6-4.

Damir Dzumhur, conqueror of Stan Wawrinka in the first round, booked his spot in the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Marcel Granollers.

Andy Murray in action during his victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.