Wildcard for Sharapova

CINCINNATI: Maria Sharapova has been thrown a comeback lifeline after the Cincinnati Masters dealt the Russian a wildcard entry.

The decision means the 30yearold former world No 1, who served a 15month ban after testing positive for a medication that was suddenly switched from legal to illegal in late 2015, will be playing for three consecutive weeks as she labours through a comeback.

The fivetime grand slam winner is now ranked No 173 but will have a chance to lift that number as she competes next week in Stanford, followed by Toronto and Cincinnati.

Her US Open fate remains unknown after she missed both the French Open and Wimbledon. Sharapova also needed time to heal a hip muscle tear and tested herself this week in team tennis for a Californian side.

Sharapova owns 35 career titles and spent 21 weeks atop the rankings. The Russian stands 133 in Cincinnati, where she won the 2011 title and finished as a finalist a year earlier.

The tournament also gave wild cards to Victoria Azarenka, the 2013 champion, and American Sloane Stephens for the event which begins August 14.

The women’s field is headed by Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep. Andy Murray will be the men’s top seed. — DPA