The five-time grand slam champion looked tired and committed several unforced errors in the first-round match as she was cheered on by a large crowd cheered who chanted “Masha! Sharapova’s first appearance at her home WTA event since 2007 came two days after she won her first WTA title in more than two years, the Tianjin Open. Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard in April called Sharapova a “cheater” and criticized the WTA for sending the wrong message by welcoming her back. In Russia, Sharapova has been portrayed as a victim of what officials have said is the unfair targeting of the country by international sports bodies that regulate anti-doping. Russia’s athletics federation, Paralympic Committee and anti-doping agency have been suspended over WADA-commissioned reports that found evidence of state-sponsored doping.

Source: bd News24 October 17, 2017 14:37 UTC