‘Sharapova should not get French Open wildcard’

WARSAW, Poland: Former world number one tennis player Maria Sharapova should not be fast-tracked into next month’s French Open as she returns from a doping ban, insists Polish rival Agnieszka Radwanska.

With double French Open champion Sharapova currently unranked, all eyes will be on the French Tennis Federation (FFT) next month when it decides whether or not to hand the 30-year-old a wildcard into the tournament.

Radwanska believes entry to the year’s second grand slam tournament would be a step too far. “Now in Germany, next in Spain, but 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,” world number eight Radwanska told Poland’s sports daily Przeglad Sportowy.

“She should win her place thanks to good results.”

Men’s world number one Andy Murray has also voiced his disapproval about the return of Sharapova who was caught out by the sport’s anti-doping laws after failing to realise that Meldonium, previously legal, had been added to the banned list.

“I’m not hiding my views. I think the same as Andy Murray,” Radwanska, who has beaten Sharapova only twice in 15 attempts, told the newspaper.

“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. “She wouldn’t have a chance for (a wildcard) from my hands (if I was a tournament director).”