Sharapova call ‘not taken lightly’
Russian granted wild card for Aegon Classic LTA chief explains move in letter to stakeholders
Michael Downey, chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, insisted yesterday that his decision to grant Maria Sharapova a wild card into the Aegon Classic Birmingham had “not been taken lightly”.
Indeed, the Sharapova situation is now so toxic that Downey felt the need to explain his decision in a 700-word “letter to stakeholders”. He started by saying that “we do not condone Maria’s actions,” before concluding that “not everyone will agree” with his choice.
Ultimately, though, the message could be boiled down to a simple statement. Something along the lines of: “Please don’t give us a hard time. We need bums on seats.”
It is possible that, when the draw is finalised in around four weeks’ time, the LTA might face criticism from a British player who is denied a wild card into Birmingham because Sharapova has already occupied a place – perhaps someone like Naomi Broady or Laura Robson.
Yet it was hard to discern a tide of outrage last night. “Players are not part of the decision-making,” said the characteristically detached British No1, Johanna Konta. “The best I can do is focus on myself.”
The LTA is hardly out on its own here. Admittedly, the French Tennis Federation did its best to occupy the moral high ground on Tuesday, when it refused Sharapova any sort of wild card for Roland Garros. But even as the FFT took away with one hand, the other was proferring an invite to its tour event in Strasbourg.
In fact, every regular tour event has tried to attract Sharapova since her ban elapsed. During her first week back on the tour, Stuttgart’s tournament director Markus Gundthardt said that he owed her a debt for building up the event’s profile. After her seven previous appearances in Birmingham, which came between 2003 and 2010, the LTA could say the same.
Despite increasingly strong entry fields, Birmingham – which clashes with the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club – remains a low-profile event, with the weakest ticket sales of any of the LTA’S tournaments. Downey might be leaving his post in six weeks’ time, but events are his strongest suit, and he wants to leave a legacy here.
In fact, he has taken advantage of Sharapova’s awkward situation by offering a two-year deal involving no appearance money in either year and no wild card in 2018.
Her presence is part of a five-year plan to drag Birmingham out of the shadow of Queen’s. It might also help find a sponsor to replace Aegon, which is due to cut its ties with the LTA after this season.
This should not be taken as any indication that Sharapova will receive a wild card into the main draw at Wimbledon. Almost certainly, she will have to settle for the qualifying event at Roehampton.
Meanwhile, Romania’s suspended Fed Cup captain, Ilie Nastase, said that he had written to the people affected by his foulmouthed outbursts last month to apologise. Konta, who was one of his targets, responded that she had not received anything.
Konta lost in both singles and doubles at the Italian Open, in the former to world No12 Venus Williams. Novak Djokovic progressed to the quarter-finals for the third straight tournament. Evidence, perhaps, that he is regaining some of his former poise.