World No 8 Agnieszka Radwanska has voiced her displeasure at Maria Sharapova potentially receiving a wild card to play the French Open, according to a report published in Reuters.
Radwanska, who gave an interview to a Polish sports-based newspaper Przeglad Sportowy stated, “Now in Germany [in Stuttgart], next in Spain, but so far she [Sharapova] hasn’t been invited to play at slams in Paris and London and in my opinion that’s how it should remain. She should win her place thanks to good results.”
The 2012 Wimbledon finalist, who noted that had she been a tournament organiser she wouldn’t have given her rival a wild card for her offence, also added, “This kind of entry into the tournament should be available only for players who were dropped in the ranking due to injury, illness or other random accident. Not for those suspended for doping. Maria should rebuild her career in a different way, beginning with smaller events.”
The 30-year-old is all set to make a comeback to the tennis Tour following the end of her ban for violating the World Anti-Doping Authority’s ban on Meldonium in January 2016. The five-time Grand Slam champion will play her first WTA tournament at the Porsche Open in Stuttgart next week, where she has won the title thrice before, consecutively from 2012-14.
Sharapova has received three wild cards so far, with the Porsche Open being the first tournament to offer her one. The Federation of French Tennis has, meanwhile, set May 15 as the date to announce whether or not the Russian will be receiving a wild card to play at Roland Garros. Sharapova is a two-time former champion at the French Open, winning the title in 2012 and 2014.