Did anyone see that coming? The tennis world is starting to digest the news that Maria Sharapova failed a drugs test at the Australian Open and the response has been… mixed. Most current players have so far chosen not to tweet about the story, while many legends of the sport have been all over it. This is what they had to say:
Rennae Stubbs simply articulated what everyone else is thinking at the moment:
HOLY SHIT!
— rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) March 7, 2016
The WTA went for an official version of Stubbs’ earlier tweet:
#WTA CEO Steve Simon's statement in response to @MariaSharapova's announcement. pic.twitter.com/DhasT9Mrpo
— WTA (@WTA) March 7, 2016
Jennifer Capriati came across cool, calm… nope, she was cross. Very cross:
Im extremely angry and disappointed. I had to lose my career and never opted to cheat no matter what.i had to throw in the towel and suffer
— Jennifer Capriati (@JenCapriati) March 7, 2016
Very, very cross…
i didn't have the high priced team of drs that found a way for me to cheat and get around the system and wait for science to catch up
— Jennifer Capriati (@JenCapriati) March 7, 2016
Madison Keys came out in support of Maria:
@MariaSharapova handled today like a true champion. Very classy of her after an honest mistake
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) March 8, 2016
Michael Russell called it how it is:
Maria handled the press conference with class, however all pro athletes should be well aware of what they are taking.
— Michael Russell (@MRusselltennis) March 7, 2016
Martina Navratilova called for a modicum of calm amidst the social media storm:
Hold your horses everyone- about Maria- I don't have all the facts, I hope it's an honest mistake,stuff was legal as far as I know till 2015
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) March 7, 2016
James Blake respected Maria for taking ownership of this thing:
Wow. Classy of @MariaSharapova to hold a press conference for this and admit making a mistake. Definitely agree that have to be aware though
— James Blake (@JRBlake) March 7, 2016
As did Ryan Harrison:
Maria handled that so well. In my opinion, honest mistake from a great champion.
— Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92) March 7, 2016
Matt Ebden was less convinced:
Doesn't look that innocent for Sharapova or whoever else took it, this Meldonium stuff but who knows? https://t.co/IBqop5ggHZ
— Matt Ebden (@mattebden) March 7, 2016
And Judy Murray… well, she chose to focus on the lighter moment in the press conference:
“If I was going 2 announce my retirement, it wouldn’t b in a downtown Los Angeles hotel with a fairly ugly carpet." Sharapova. Standards ?
— judy murray (@judmoo) March 7, 2016
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