Chris Evert defends maria Sharapova wildcards
By Reuters
13 hours ago
Former American great Chris Evert has no issue with tournaments handing Maria Sharapova wildcard entries as the Russian former world number one makes her way back from a doping ban, she said on Wednesday.
Evert, an 18-times grand slam champion who retired in 1989, was the latest to weigh into a debate in which many leading players have criticised tournament organisers for not making Sharapova earn her way back.
Wildcards are currently the only way Sharapova, who is unranked and serving a 15-month ban, can play in the big events and she has accepted invitations to tournaments in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome in the next two months.
"You can't blame the tournaments really for wanting to be successful and wanting to enhance their tournament by having a big draw like Maria Sharapova," Evert said on a conference call from Indian Wells, where she is a television commentator for ESPN at the BNP Paribas Open.
"She is doing everything within the rules and she [will have] fulfilled her obligation of 15 months so I am not critical of that decision that the tournament made whatsoever."
Sharapova was among the top 10 players in the world when she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at last year's Australian Open.
The 29-year-old Russian's two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation was later reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Sharapova said this year that she would return to competition at the Stuttgart Grand Prix, the main draw for which starts on April 24, the penultimate day of the five-times grand slam champion's ban.
Men's world number one Andy Murray said he wished players would not get any favours on returning from bans regardless of their popularity while Dane Caroline Wozniacki called the decision to allow Sharapova to play "disrespectful."
At the moment, Sharapova would need a wildcard from the French Tennis Federation to play in the French Open. Her performances in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome could avoid forcing the All England Club into making the same decision regarding this year's Wimbledon.
"It's completely within the rules and fair for the tournament to reward whoever they want," former top-10 player Brad Gilbert said.
"It will be interesting to see what the slams do."
http://www.eurosport.com/tennis/evert-has-no-issue-with-sharapova-wildcards_sto6094790/story.shtml
ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert said wild cards are issued at tournament director’s discretion therefore it’s “completely within the rules” for tournaments to award the former No. 1—or any other player—wild cards.
“Wild cards are for the tournament director to give to whoever they want,” Gilbert told the media. “I get asked this all the time. It’s not really what my opinion is… I like to see what the players—positively and negatively—are saying about Maria. I think that’s for them to voice their opinions about what they think is fair.
“But it’s completely within the rules for the tournament to reward whoever they want.”
Roland Garros and Wimbledon have not yet announced wild cards.
Gilbert says there is a bigger question in the Sharapova wild-card debate: Will the USTA and other Federations, which do business with the ITF, award Sharapova wild cards?
The International Tennis Federation is the governing body of the Grand Slams.
“It will be interesting to see what the Slams do because they do a little more business with the ITF and so will the Federations give her a wild card?” Gilbert said. “Wimbledon is a (private) club so that’s different. The question is will the Federations—the French Federation, the USTA, the Aussie Federation—give her a wild card?
"I like to see the players voice their opinions. I think it’s completely up to the tournament (director) to do what’s best for his tournament.”
http://www.tennisnow.com/News/2017/March/Evert-Sharapova-Wild-Cards-Warranted.aspx
Другие посты из этой серии можете прочитать здесь:
Книга «Наша Маша» - Глава «Нечестный ПИАР. ПИАР за счет Шараповой»
https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/dennytenn/1201967.html
Содержание книги «Наша Маша» (все другие ссылки) Вы можете узнать здесь:
http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/dennytenn/579537.html
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Сегодня опубликовали такую статью:
No Sharapova wild card offers for British grass-court events
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/no-sharapova-wild-card-offers-for-british-grass-court-events-9hb690rwl
The Lawn Tennis Association has insisted that no wild card offers have been made to Maria Sharapova after her agent claimed that every Women’s Tennis Association tournament had contacted him.
Stuart Fraser, Tennis Writer
March 16 2017, 12:01am,
The Times
Автор пытается показать читателям, что слова агента Марии не верны.
Я сразу написал автору, что он и ЛТА не читают правильно слова агента Марии.
Он возразил мне, что ЛТА управляет не только УИМ, а и еще 3 турнира на траве.
И поэтому агент Марии не прав утверждать, что все турниры WTA звонили ему.
Конечно это трюк со стороны Таймса и Стюарта. Они прекрасно знают (или должны знать), что Мария уже несколько лет не участвует в турнирах на траве, кроме Уимблдон.
Когда я написал об этом Стюарту он уже не ответил!
Но мы привыкли, знаем как все это работает и часто СМИ теряют в эту борьбу.
Здесь ББС опубликовала опрос "Дать ли Марии или нет WC Уимблдона?":
http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/39288838
Пожалуйста, зайдите туда и выберите "YES".
Попросите Ваши друзья и знакомые сделать то же самое!
А серьезно, наверное, надо любыми способами показывать поддержку идеи полноценного и заслуженного возвращения Марии из незаслуженного бана сразу на самом высоком уровне, даже путем участия в таких опросах, маленькое дело, но оно может быть полезно.
Только высказав свое мнение можно рассчитывать, что оно может быть услышано.
:):):)