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Maria Sharapova's rivals are ready and waiting for her return

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'TENNIS NEEDS MARIA' - SHARAPOVA'S RIVALS RELISH HER RETURN

Maria Sharapova's rivals are ready and waiting for her return. WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen reports from the All-Access Hour in Indian Wells.

Published March 09, 2017 12:14

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA - Maria Sharapova's impending return dominated the discussion during media interviews ahead the BNP Paribas Open. The former No.1 and five-time Slam champion is set to return to competition in April after a 15-month suspension for an anti-doping violation. Sharapova's first event will be at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, where she received a wildcard into the main draw. She has also accepted a wildcard into the Mutua Madrid Open and Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

Here's what the players had to say at the media's All-Access Hour in Indian Wells:

Svetlana Kuznetsova: "I think it's great for tennis, her comeback. I think she's looking forward to it. I think she should come back hungry for the game and to win.

"With the wildcards, it's very complicated. It's a very difficult issue. It's a good thing that it's not for me to decide that. I've been supportive of her because I don't think this thing was as serious as it got.

"It's a very hard call. I wonder what to do in this situation because there is one case and then there's another case. Each case is different. It's really hard to make a call.

"I understand because if we talk about cheaters, people who cheat, then you say why would cheaters get a wildcard? [But] if [it was because of] some mistake, then it's a little bit different story. But it's really hard to say. I understand all the sides. It's really hard."

Angelique Kerber: "It's a little bit strange, the situation, because I think she can just come on site on Wednesday (Sharapova's suspension ends at midnight on the Tuesday of Stuttgart, and she is eligible to play her first-round match on Wednesday). So it's a strange situation. I don't know what to say about this. It's a little bit strange also for the other players that someone can only just walk on site on Wednesday and play on Wednesday. So it's a little bit weird.

"I don't know yet who will get wildcards as well, but for me it's a little bit weird because it is a German tournament and for me, [there are so] many good German players and I think a few of us will need a wildcard to get into the main draw as well. So this is a little bit strange. The Germans are playing Fed Cup, we are playing for the country, and we are trying to make German tennis more famous again. More people are taking the racquets again. So yeah, the situation is a little bit weird."

Karolina Pliskova: "Definitely I think tennis needs a person like she is, so on one hand it's good that she's gonna be back. It doesn't matter how she's gonna play.

"On the other hand, obviously there are all these discussions now about how she's gonna get the wildcards. I think it depends on the tournaments and the directors who decide on the wildcards. I have my own opinions but I'm just not going to say it."

Garbiñe Muguruza: "I think it's going to be good for the fans, good for the sponsors. But I don't know how the reaction is going to be, honestly. I have no clue. She has been out for the time that they told her. That's what she had to do, so now she can come back. It's pretty normal, I guess."

Simona Halep: "I heard what Andy Murray said [about this]. I think he's right in his position. I don't know what to say about this. I'm not there to make decisions so maybe people who are working on this know better.

"In my opinion, she can receive wildcards because she was No.1 in the world, she's a Grand Slam champion, but I think even if she doesn't get wildcards she can come back easy."

http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/6385285/title/tennis-needs-maria--sharapovas-rivals-relish-her-return

Другие посты из этой серии можете прочитать здесь:

Книга «Наша Маша» - Глава «Нечестный ПИАР. ПИАР за счет Шараповой»

https://www.sports.ru/tennis/blogs/1201967.html

Содержание книги «Наша Маша» (все другие ссылки) Вы можете узнать здесь:

https://www.sports.ru/tennis/blogs/579537.html

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