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Maria Sharapova Granted Wild Card Into U.S. Open Field

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By BEN ROTHENBERGAUG. 15, 2017

Maria Sharapova has been granted a wild-card entry into the main draw of the United States Open, which will be her first Grand Slam appearance since serving a 15-month suspension for doping.

The United States Tennis Association announced its decision to invite Sharapova, the 2006 Open champion, in a statement on Tuesday.

“Her suspension under the terms of the tennis anti-doping program was completed and therefore was not one of the factors weighed in our wild card selection process,” the U.S.T.A. said. “Consistent with past practice, a wild card was provided to a past U.S. Champion who needed the wild card for entry into the main draw.

“Additionally, Sharapova has volunteered to speak to young tennis players at the USTA National Campus about the importance of the tennis anti-doping program and the personal responsibility each player has to comply with the program’s requirements.”

Sharapova had been denied a wild card to the main draw or the qualifying tournament of the French Open this year because she was coming off a doping suspension. “Though there can be a wild card after an injury, there cannot be one for a return from doping,” the president of the French Tennis Federation, Bernard Giudicelli, said at the time.

Sharapova then announced she would not seek a wild card into the main draw at Wimbledon, but would play in the qualifying rounds. She withdrew, however, with an injury.

Sharapova, 30, returned to the tour in April after a 15-month suspension for a doping violation. Her suspension had been reduced from its original two years on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium in January at the Australian Open. Meldonium, a heart medication that is said to improve blood flow and allow athletes to recover faster, was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list on Jan. 1. After testing positive, Sharapova said she was not aware that the drug had been banned.

Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam winner, is currently ranked No. 148, not high enough to qualify for the United States Open on her own merit.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/sports/tennis/maria-sharapova-us-open-wild-card.html

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