STRIKE UP THE BANNED
Serena coach blast Sharapova, suggests new rule for dopers
Serena Williams’ coach does not see Maria Sharapova with the stamina to make the U.S. Open semifinals. And nothing personal, but she probably shouldn’t be in the main draw in the first place. The outspoken Patrick Mouratoglou also noted new mother Williams’ pregnancy-related absence from the Open was the luckiest thing to happen to the 6-foot-2 Russian blonde — who is back in action in the fourth round Sunday, facing 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia. Williams, who owns a 19-2 record against Sharapova, gave birth to a girl Friday. “When Maria enters a tournament, the best news possible for her is if Serena is not in the draw,” Mouratoglou told The Post. “She’s a better tennis player. She’s the best of all time. She hasn’t been dominating just Sharapova.” Mouratoglou, doing commentary for Eurosport and ESPN, said the WTA and ATP should establish a rule banning wild cards for one year for players emerging from drug suspensions such as Sharapova. Sharapova, ranked 146th coming into the tournament, was handed a wild card into the main draw by the USTA. Mouratoglou said it was “gutsy” the French Open rejected her. “It would be a great message the tennis world sent to the fans,” Mouratoglou said. “Whoever is tested positive, whether superstar or not, it’s the same treatment. They should vote in a rule someone who comes back from a ban from doping shouldn’t get a wild card coming back. “I don’t think it sends a good message. It’s like, ‘I take something away from you because you did something wrong but then I give you a hand.’ Don’t help [a] player that has lost their ranking because of testing positive. Don’t help them come back to the top faster. I get it. I know it’s exciting for any tournament director to have Sharapova in the draw. The stadium will be full, sponsors happy, TV ratings. But let her play her way into the top 100 and deserve her place in the draw. It’s nothing against her. I would say if it’s anyone.”
Mouratoglou joined a growing chorus of individuals who aren’t thrilled Sharapova has been the Open’s star. Coco Vandeweghe, who punched her ticket to the round of 16 with a three-set victory Saturday, said an up-and-coming American should have claimed the wild card.
Caroline Wozniacki, after getting eliminated in the second round, charged Sharpaova shouldn’t be placed on center court.
Sharapova fired back at Wozniacki, saying: “All that matters to me, I’m in the fourth round. Yeah, I’m not sure where she is.”
Mouratoglou said he believes Sharapaova may not make it out of the fourth round despite a modest draw that opened after she bounced No. 2 Simona Halep in Round 1. Surging American Sloane Stephens may lurk in the quarterfinals.
“I would be surprised if she does, but she can,” said Mouratoglou, promoting a new memoir, “The Coach.” “I think she can lose to anyone now. She played an incredible first match. Everyone was impressed, including me. The next two matches she played, she was miles away from the level of the first round. Not so much of quality.
“Better competitors are coming. If she doesn’t dramatically raise her level, she’s going to lose soon. Two three-setters, physically, mentally, she’s a little suffering, and Sloane’s at a super-good level.”
Moratoglou admitted to “something missing” for him being at the U.S. Open as just a commentator and not having the thrill of coaching Williams here. He reported she is “incredibly happy,” and he will get her on the practice court as soon as he gets an OK from doctors, with an eye on January’s Australian Open.
“Hopefully soon she’ll be back and we’ll live those emotions again,” he said.