Maria Sharapova’s big comeback from a doping suspension is not going so well

Maria Sharapova versus Eugenie Bouchard during day three of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis

Depending on where you fall on the spectrum of women’s tennis fans, Maria Sharpova’s much-hyped comeback has either been really discouraging or really funny. What’s nice is that it’s actually news, although I would argue that the talented women in tennis don’t need the “sideshow” drama of Maria Sharapova to make news. All of this would be different – and less sordid – if Sharapova was merely an unpopular champion returning to the game after an injury. But she’s not. She’s an unpopular champion returning to the game after a well-deserved doping suspension. In the lead up to Sharapova’s return to the tour last month, we were gifted with glowing profiles and soft-focus interviews about how she is resilient and never gives up and oh, yeah, she’s also an attractive white woman. If a Williams sister had been suspended for doping, do you think the press around their return would have been so mild?

Anyway, Sharapova’s comeback has really not been that great, tennis-wise. She’s been entering into clay-court tournaments via Wild Card. Wild Cards are given at the prerogative of the tournament directors/organizers, many of whom just want a quick hit of publicity from Sharapova’s faded star power. At Stuttgart, Sharapova lost to badass Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic in the semifinal. In Madrid, wild-eyed Canadian Genie Bouchard took out Sharapova in Round 2, in what was one of the best “grudge matches” of the year: Bouchard had publicly slammed “cheater” Sharapova for doping, then Bouchard continued to talk sh-t about Sharapova after beating her ass in Madrid. Just yesterday, Sharapova retired in the second round of the Italian Open citing a thigh injury. Like, girl, you’ve maybe played five matches in a year’s time and already you’re injured? But the injury (who knows?) came after the French Tennis Federation president announced that Sharapova would not be getting a Wild Card for the French Open, a major she has won twice before.

Two-time champion Maria Sharapova has missed out on a wild-card entry for the French Open because of her doping ban. Announcing the decision on a live Facebook broadcast on Tuesday, French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said he told Sharapova in person that it was not possible.

“I decided not to give Maria Sharapova a wild card. I’m very sorry for Maria, very sorry for her fans. They might be disappointed, she might be very disappointed,” Giudicelli said. “But it’s my responsibility, it’s my mission to protect the game and protect the high standards of the game.”

“This suspension is over and she can take her path toward new success,” Giudicelli said. “But while there can be a wild card for return from injury, there can’t be a wild card for return from doping.”

Sharapova, who has titles at all four majors, won at Roland Garros in 2012 and 2014. Thanks to wild cards at her first two tournaments, she got her world ranking to outside the top 200 this week. But that wasn’t good enough to make the cut even for the qualifying field at Roland Garros, so she will miss the tournament for a second straight year. The French Open begins on May 28.

[From ESPN]

I’ll admit, I was surprised that the French Open didn’t want her, not even as a qualifier. It was always going to be a “step down” for a two-time French Open champion to only be allowed into the tournament through qualifying rounds, but Sharapova had let it be known that she was willing to do it if that’s what it took. And now she won’t even get the chance. Next up: Sharapova will have to wait and see if Wimbledon organizers will give her a Wild Card. Considering the French feel so strongly about it, I can’t say that her chances are looking that great at Wimbledon though. Especially since some of Sharapova’s loudest critics are the British tennis players, from Heather Watson to current world #1 Andy Murray.

PS… I will never stop loving Genie Bouchard’s sh-t talking.

Mutua Madrid Open - Day Three

Photos courtesy of WENN, Pacific Coast News.

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23 Responses to “Maria Sharapova’s big comeback from a doping suspension is not going so well”

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  1. Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

    You reap what you sow.

    • Ramona says:

      Question; aside from the doping, why is she so unpopular? I never liked her because I hated the fact that she was getting better endorsement deals than the GOAT merely for being a cute white girl but I’m sensing theres much more to her unpopularity. What is it?

      • Mike says:

        She is rumored to be very aloof and pretty unfriendly to other players. Her long feud with Serena Williams likely did not help since I think Serena is fairly popular.

  2. Sixer says:

    Last I saw Murray talking about it, he had the look of LEGS being asked about 007 for the gazillionth time! A lesser grass tournament here has already given her a wild card, presumably, as Murray has said those gazillion times, in the hopes of some press attention and ticket sales. Don’t know what Wimbledon will do.

    Generally speaking, I agree with Murray. Strongly anti-doping. Don’t feel prominent players should get preferential treatment via wild cards on completion of doping bans.

    • BritAfrica says:

      Agree with Andy too. I find the whole thing quite ridiculous.

      If she’s at Wimbledon this year, then I won’t the watching the women’s events. Imagine if you are the player who loses out on a possible place because Sharapova got it. Utterly ridiculous!

  3. Nicole says:

    HA it’s what she deserves.

  4. PettyRiperton says:

    Of course not, the press would’ve ripped the William sisters especially Serena to shreds. Maria horrible comeback is hilarious to me. I hate how the tennis press is handling her with kid gloves, had it been Serena they would’ve shamed her into retirement.

  5. Pumpkin Pie says:

    I don’t want to call her by her name, so I will call her M(a)elodium Shamelesspova. I refuse to watch her play, and IMO her presence on any tournament, not only Grand Slams, is a huge slap to other tennis players and negative publicity to the organizers. I don’t care about the “oh she served the ban”. No-one should ignore her long-term cheating and she should not be granted any kind of understanding. She intentionally took that enhancing performance drug meant to help people affected by heart disease, without being sick with the respective disease. All her “victories” should be put under doubt by the sport and real tennis fans. Good on the RG director for not giving her a wild card. Excellent decision.

  6. Sigh says:

    I’m pretty sure this is the French Open just sticking to their guns. They had their minds made up before this nonsense. When she came off suspension they said they wouldn’t offer her a wildcard and insisted she had to earn her way in. She didn’t and here we are. Good for them for not backing down. What will be interesting is if the other majors follow suit…

  7. Bess says:

    I was shocked that so many of her sponsors went back to Sharapova once her suspension ended. Why would any company want to be associated with a cheater?

    • Nicole says:

      You’re shocked really? She blonde and white. End of story

      • Annetommy says:

        She’s pretty and has a great figure too. Blonde and white is not enough. I’m glad she didn’t get a wild card, what she did was wrong but I don’t share the acute dislike. She’s not a particularly sympathetic personality, but if companies are prepared to pay her vast endorsements, why shouldn’t she take the money? I know I would. Doesn’t mean the system is fair, as it isn’t. It’s not her job to fix it.

    • Susan says:

      Once her suspension ended? They never dropped her.

  8. Catherine says:

    “Wild-eyed Canadian” 😂😂. Like you, I’m a hard core tennis fan and that phrase is a work of art. 😜🏆

    With Serena out, who do you like this year? Kerber? Venus? Muguruza? Also…did you see Serena troll the women’s tennis coverage? It’s been horrible.

    • Kaiser says:

      I would love it if Muguruza won another French and then Azarenka to sweep the hard courts when she comes back. I would also love it if Venus started winning some major tournaments too. Like, say, Wimbledon.

  9. TQB says:

    Bravo to RG and the other great women of tennis for upholding the high standards of their sport and not letting her off the hook. That’s true love for the game and respect for the fans.

  10. Clare says:

    F Sharapova – but I’m also totally over Genie Bouchard and her random b*%chy comments. It’s thirsty, kinda lame, and unbecoming of a professional athlete – take note the Williams’ sisters who basically have to have their feet held to the fire before they’ll speak ill of a competitor. THAT is class.

  11. Littlestar says:

    Haha can’t stand her.

  12. spidey says:

    Oh dear what a pity ! I could never bear to watch the grunting cheater before so I certainly won’t be watching the cheating, grunting doper now. Arrogant *****. !

  13. Danielle says:

    We would give a wild card for return from injury but never a return from Doping. Hahahaha!

  14. whatever says:

    She had a horrible aloof personality before her ban now its 10 x worse because of her complaining , finger pointing , holier-than-thou attitude and lack of contrition . This girl has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, i’m surprised she has any fans to begin with!. I’m glad she has been refused a WC maybe now she will have some humility and stop thinking that she is far superior than everyone else on the tour.

  15. Ashley.Nate says:

    F#ck Sharapova and her white girl privileges. Let the b#tch crash and burn