Maria’s toughest test

When Maria Sharapova releases her autobiography in the months ahead, overcoming adversity is likely to be the strongest theme. From the difficulties the young Russian navigated after relocating to America for her tennis development at age seven to her return to Grand Slam heights after a serious shoulder injury – and many minor battles in between – strength of character is arguably one of the most overlooked qualities in her prolific success.

But the challenge that Sharapova faces as she works to resurrect her career after her 15-month ban for a doping offence is unquestionably her toughest test yet. And where there was sympathy as she overcame personal and medical challenges in the past, it’s likely to be a far different reception this time around.

At the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco earlier this year, Boris Becker noted that Sharapova deserved a second chance. “She paid her dues, she was suspended for quite a long time. I don’t know about the reaction of the other players, it’s up to them,” the German said of Sharapova, who shocked the world in March 2016 with the announcement she’d tested positive for meldonium, which had only recently been added to the World Anti Doping Association’s banned substance list.

Many fellow players were reluctant to comment at the time but others, like world No.4 Dominika Cibulkova, ultimately made their feelings clear. “I was surprised that most of the reactions [to Sharapova’s positive drugs test] were so diplomatic, because everyone’s opinion is actually totally different. I didn’t make any statement, as I didn’t want to be the only person to openly say what they think about this case,” Cibulkova was quoted as saying in Slovakian media.

“I will only say that I don’t feel sorry at all for Sharapova and I don’t miss her on the tour. She’s a totally unlikeable person. Arrogant, conceited and cold. When I sit beside her in the locker room, she won’t even say hello.”

But the commercial appeal of Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam and former world No.1 with a huge fan following, can’t be disputed – and tournament organisers were understandably quick to welcome her back.

Sharapova makes her return this week with a wildcard entry into the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart and while fans will no doubt be pleased to see the three-time champion back on court, the typically laid-back Angelique Kerber was among those who were perplexed by special arrangements that had been made for the Russian. Sharapova, who isn’t allowed on site until her ban officially ends on Wednesday, will play her first round match against Roberta Vinci two days after the tournament begins.

“This is, all over, a strange situation,” Kerber told reporters in Indian Wells, also noting that Sharapova’s wildcard potentially denied entry for a German player. “I don’t know what to say about this because it’s a little bit strange for the other players that somebody can just walk on site Wednesday and play Wednesday.”

Caroline Wozniacki had a similar view, declaring the special arrangements in Sharapova’s return as “disrespectful” to other players. “I think it’s very questionable, allowing – no matter who it is – a player that is still banned to play a tournament that week,” she commented. “When someone has been banned for drugs and something that is performance enhancing, I think that you deserve a second chance like everybody else. People make mistakes. But I think you should fight your way back from the bottom.”

Wildcards have also been awarded for Madrid and Rome – cities in which Sharapova has also added to her 35 career titles – but many observers believe this is where the niceties should end.

“It’s two different issues – the issue of morality and how you view it, and the issue of business,” former world No.1 Andy Roddick told ESPN.com. “If there’s a smaller event that will benefit from having Maria, I don’t begrudge them giving her the card. The Grand Slams are different. They’re held to a higher standard because there’s so much interest in them.”

The American’s comments followed a hard-line view from Andy Murray, who stressed that the 2004 Wimbledon champion should receive no special treatment at the All England Club. “I think you should really have to work your way back. However, the majority of tournaments are going to do what they think is best for their event,” the world No.1 told the Times of London newspaper. “If they think having big names there is going to sell more seats, then they’re going to do that. She (Sharapova) has an opportunity to try to improve her ranking up until that point and potentially not need a wildcard.

“But then if she doesn’t, that becomes Wimbledon’s decision and how they want to play that. I’m sure they’ll think long and hard about it and how they feel people will view it and then make the right decision for them.”

Agnieszka Radwanska subsequently weighed in, telling Polish media: “So far she 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.”

Officials at Roland Garros – the only Slam Sharapova has won twice – are all too aware of the divisive nature of the Russian’s return. A final decision into a fast-tracked entry into the French Open will be made by 15 May, but initial comments made by French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli suggested a wildcard entry is far from guaranteed. “It’s complicated. We prefer that she returns completely rehabilitated,” Giudicelli said in March. “Integrity is one of our strong points. We cannot decide, on the one hand, to increase the amount of funds we dedicate to the anti-doping battle and, on the other, invite her.”

The need for wildcards, at least in the initial stages, is not the only challenge Sharapova faces in her comeback. Ranked world No.5 when she left the tour last year, the Russian returns unranked, making her vulnerable in tournament draws.

Physical challenges, long a feature in Sharapova’s career, had also preceded her WTA exit. After a semifinal run at Wimbledon in 2015, she’d played just four events in the six months that followed, hampered by a right forearm injury that also saw her sitting out the tournaments that immediately followed Australian Open 2016. And it’s hard to overlook that she recently turned 30 and the women’s tennis landscape has altered dramatically in her time away.

Still, circumstances that might be insurmountable for other players are more often fuel for Maria, who has repeatedly expressed her determination that her career not be defined by the drugs controversy.

In an October 2016 interview with US broadcaster Charlie Rose, Sharapova was excited for the fresh start that had come sooner than expected, her initial two-year sentence having been reduced on appeal to 15 months. “I’ve travelled a lot. I’ve done things that I’d just never had the opportunity to do in a time where I didn’t know what my future would be,” said the Russian, who spent time studying and further developing the Sugarpova brand in her break. “I never knew what weekends felt like. For the first time I actually know that there’s a Saturday and there’s a Sunday.”

Activity also took on new meaning, Sharapova able to enjoy it more for personal reasons than professional ones. “I’ve been training in a very different way where I’m not training for a tournament, I’m not training to get back in a few months,” she said. “I was just training for myself. It felt so good. Because you’re doing it for you, you’re doing it to feel good.”

Which is not to say that Sharapova won’t be all business as she works to resurrect her career. Arguably the highest-profile player in history to face such a controversy, Sharapova understands the fighting spirit that will be required. Fortunately, she has plenty of it. “I’ve never used the word rejection in my life. I don’t believe in ‘no’s,” she told Rose. “I just get through it. I was born to be a warrior.”

The autobiography that’s shortly due to hit shelves might require another edition. Should Sharapova somehow return to her former heights, it will undeniably be her most successful chapter yet.

This story appeared in the April/May 2017 issue of Australian Tennis Magazine. Click here to subscribe.