Sharapova handed US Open wildcard

Maria Sharapova has been handed a wildcard into the US Open. The Russian, who returned from a 15-month doping suspension in April, had been widely expected to play in qualifying at Flushing Meadows. However, after the decision by the The United States Tennis Association (USTA), Sharapova is now clear to compete in her first Major since making her return to competitive action.

“Her suspension under the terms of the tennis anti-doping program was completed and therefore was not one of the factors weighed in our wildcard selection process,” a USTA spokesperson told the BBC.

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“Consistent with past practice, a wildcard was provided to a past US champion who needed the wildcard for entry into the main draw.

“Previous US Open champions who have received US Open main draw wildcards include Martina Hingis, Lleyton Hewitt, Kim Cljisters and Juan Martin del Potro.”

Thank you, @usopen. This is so so special. #goosebumps https://t.co/MnolaaqKsN

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) August 15, 2017

Sharapova has been reliant on wildcards since making her return to tennis at Stuttgart in April. Since that tournament, she has been handed direct entry to main draws in Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome, Stanford, the Rogers Cup and Cincinnati (the latter two she was forced to withdraw from because of injury).

But while wildcards into WTA events were forthcoming, those to Grand Slams were not. The French Open did offer her a place in qualifying, while Wimbledon declined to give her a wildcard into main draw because her ranking was sufficient to guarantee direct entry to their qualifying event.

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It is understood that, in return for the wildcard, Sharapova has also made certain guarantees to the USTA. It is believed she will talk to junior players about the importance of anti-doping at the USTA National Campus.

The USTA’s announcement is the latest twist in what has been a torrid return to tennis for the five-time major champion. After a promising start, Sharapova has seen her comeback thwarted by injury. Most recently she had to withdraw from the US Open Series event in Stanford with a left forearm injury, a problem that also forced her out of the Rogers Cup and Cincinnati.