It meant she needed a favour from the French Tennis Federation (FFT) but in an unexpected development, especially as the French Open is already without pregnant Serena Williams and resting Roger Federer, it took a moral stand that will please some of her rivals but could hit the tournament's ratings. "You can get a wild card when you return from injury but you cannot get a wild card when returning from a doping suspension," FFT president Bernard Giudicelli said during a news conference broadcast live on Facebook. Sharapova, who won Wimbledon in 2004, will need a wild card to get straight into the main draw at the All England Club. At least Sharapova is guaranteed a place in the Wimbledon qualifying event thanks to her first-round win on Monday. Sharapova's return has been rocky and several leading players have criticised tournament directors at WTA events in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome for offering her a wild card, arguing that she should be awarded no special treatment.

Source: bd News24 May 17, 2017 01:30 UTC