Open savaged by media

AUSTRALIAN Open tournament director Craig Tiley has defended Maria Sharapova’s involvement in the draw ceremony in the face of withering international condemnation.

Sharapova was asked to carry the women’s trophy into Margaret Court Arena and give an interview during the televised draw. Her appearance drew a backlash, with international media blasting Tennis Australia over the Russian player’s doping history.

But Tiley said Sharapova’s presence beside five-time men’s champion Roger Federer was justified. With Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka absent and Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals of the Sydney International, the only other option, in terms of active Open winners, was the 2008 champion Sharapova.

“We wanted to have a former champion,” Tiley said. “In fairness to Maria, the adjudication [on a 15-month ban] has occurred on that. She’s a former champion.”

That cut no ice with international media. The Daily Mail said: “Small wonder that the outside world looks in and questions whether tennis takes anti-doping seriously enough.”

The Guardian was similarly unimpressed: “The player also had the easiest of rides in her onstage interview with the host broadcaster, Channel 7.”

The Express said: “The Russian’s last involvement with the tournament resulted in her being banned from tennis for 15 months after testing positive for a prohibited substance.”