Publications
Partners
Paris - French Open organisers are bracing for controversy
ahead of Tuesday's decision on whether to grant Maria Sharapova a wildcard for
Roland Garros.
The decision on whether the former world number one,
returning from a 15-month doping ban, will gain wildcard entry for the Grand
Slam is to be announced at 18:00 by the president of the French Tennis
Federation Bernard Guidicelli.
"Some say she shouldn't get it, others say she served
her time," tournament director Guy Forget told the BBC.
"As you talk with players, it's very controversial. So
no matter what happens, there will be a lot of questions around that
wildcard."
The five-times Grand Slam winner was banned for two years
for using meldonium, but the penalty was reduced to 15 months on appeal by the
Court of Arbitration for Sport which ruled she was not an intentional doper.
After the ban expired last month, the Russian returned to
competition at the Stuttgart Open, reaching the semi-finals, and progressed to
the last 32 of the Madrid Open, too late to earn herself a qualifying spot for
Paris.
On Monday she won her opening match at the Rome Masters, guaranteeing a qualifying spot at Wimbledon and she could earn a slot in the main draw if she reaches the semi-finals of the event she has won three times.
