Maria Sharapova made a victorious return from a 15-month doping ban yesterday with tournament promoters drooling over profit margins and rivals condemning the smooth road prepared for the Russian superstar’s rehabilitation.
When the former world number one and five-time Grand Slam title winner walked onto centre court at the Stuttgart Porsche Arena to face Italian veteran Roberta Vinci, it was her first match since a quarter-final loss to bitter rival Serena Williams at the 2016 Australian Open.
Just weeks after that defeat, Sharapova announced she had tested positive for meldonium.
An initial two-year suspension was cut to 15 months and here the 30-year-old is now – without a world ranking, requiring wildcards from tournaments and dividing opinion just as she has done ever since she burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old Wimbledon winner in 2004.
Stuttgart was the first event to hand her a wildcard, which was not surprising as the event is sponsored by Porsche, one of the Russian’s many high-profile personal sponsors.
Forthcoming tournaments in Madrid and Rome have followed suit.
With the likes of Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova sidelined – and potential heir Eugenie Bouchard struggling – women’s tennis needs pulling power and Sharapova ticks all the boxes.
However, many rivals say that having committed a doping violation, she should be rubbing shoulders with the sport’s lower orders in qualifying, grinding out a path back to the big time.
“She shouldn’t have been given a wildcard, neither here nor in Rome or Madrid,” said Vinci.
“She is an awesome player, a champion, personally I have nothing against her. She has paid for her mistake, but she should have had to go through qualification, without any help. “After two or three tournaments (with wildcards) she could be in the top 30 again.”
Vinci, the world number 36 who has taken just four games off Sharapova in two defeats, was echoing the opinions of Andy Murray, Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki in demanding the Russian work her way back into the game.
World number five Simona Halep, the fourth seed in Stuttgart, also said handing Sharapova a wildcard sends completely the wrong signal.
Three-time Stuttgart champion Sharapova, never one for cosy locker room chat, is not concerned by what’s being said as she has a bigger goal – a place at the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year which she has won twice.
Roland Garros organisers say they will make a decision on a wildcard for the main draw by the week of May 15.
There is speculation that Paris might meet her half way by granting a wildcard into the qualifying tournament instead.
However, she still has powerful advocates in the sport including WTA chief Steve Simon who defended her wildcard.
With Sharapova winning her first round match against Vinci in straight sets yesterday, she will no doubt be having the last laugh. Her wildcard will be discussed for some more time, but that is not going to stop her fans from flocking to tournaments in which she is involved.
