Rivals oppose wild card for Sharapova
A day before Maria Sharapova was to play her first tennis match since being banned for doping, the debate about the Russian’s wild card entry for the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, continued yesterday.
Simona Halep and Alize Cornet joined the growing legion of players criticizing tournament organizers for offering Sharapova a direct spot in their main draws.
“For the kids, for the young players, it is not OK to help with a wild card the player that was banned for doping,” said the fifth-ranked Halep, adding that “it is not about Maria Sharapova here, but it is about all the players that are found doped.”
“I cannot support what the tournament director did, but also I cannot judge,” said Halep, who is seeded fourth and plays Barbora Strycova in the second round.
Cornet went a step further in comments published by French sports daily L’Equipe.
“Generally speaking, I find it shameful that the WTA is promoting a player who tested positive after all. It’s normal that people talk about her, she’s an immense champion, but from there to promoting her return to such an extent . . . I find that unjust,” the 41st-ranked Frenchwoman said.
Sharapova’s 15-month suspension for the use of meldonium after the heart drug became a banned substance at the beginning of 2016, ends today. The five-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 is scheduled to play Roberta Vinci in a firstround evening match at the tournament she won three times from 2012-14.
On Monday, Vinci joined the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Dominika Cibulkova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Angelique Kerber in publicly opposing wild cards for players returning from a doping ban.
Costa, Chelsea in control
Diego Costa ended a sevengame goal drought in style to help Chelsea open up a sevenpoint lead in soccer’s English Premier League with a 4-2 victory over Southampton.
The second-half double halted a barren run that began shortly after a reported dispute at the club as Costa was linked with a move to the financially-flush Chinese Super League. . . .
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is expected to miss the Champions League semifinals because of a calf muscle injury.
The club said tests confirmed the extent of the left calf injury that forced Bale to leave the Spanish league game against Barcelona on Sunday before halftime. . . .
Orlando’s Kaka is Major League Soccer’s highest-paid player for the third straight season, just ahead of Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco. Kaka, a Brazilian midfielder in his third season with Orlando, has a $6.6 million base salary this year, according to figures released by the MLS Players Union.
Berry stays at UNC
North Carolina point guard and Final Four most outstanding player Joel Berry II is withdrawing from the NBA draft to return for his senior season.
The school announced Monday that Berry would join teammates Tony Bradley and Theo Pinson in declaring for the draft but wouldn’t hire an agent to maintain his college eligibility. But in a statement yesterday, Berry said he had reversed course after conferring with his family and said he can prepare for the NBA by playing “against the best college competition in the country.”
Berry says, “There’s no reason to rush leaving school.” . . .
North Carolina State freshman Ted Kapita has made himself eligible for the NBA draft but isn’t hiring an agent. Kapita averaged 4.3 points and 3.4 rebounds off the bench last season. . . .
Kentucky freshman Bam Adebayo will hire an agent and stay in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-10 forward had left open the possibility of returning for his sophomore season. . . .
Charlie Moore, a 5-foot-11 guard who played for Cal last season, will transfer to Kansas, making it official with a post on his Twitter account. He will have to sit out next season with three years of eligibility remaining after that. . . .
Northwestern locked up its homegrown football and basketball coaches for the long term.
Football coach Pat Fitzgerald signed a new contract that runs through the 2026 season. Basketball coach Chris Collins’ contract was extended through the 202425 season. Both are Chicago-area natives.