By Daily Sports on February 9, 2017
Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has been handed a wildcard for the Madrid Open in May just weeks after completing a 15-month ban for doping, organisers confirmed on Wednesday.
The Russian who won the French Open for her fifth Grand Slam in 2014 – shortly after winning the Madrid Open that year – plans to make her return to the circuit in Stuttgart on April 26.
“Sharapova requested an invitation to play in the tournament and after careful consideration, we decided to give her a wild card,” said tournament director and former Wimbledon champion Manolo Santana.
“Maria is one of the best players of the last 15 years and also a past winner of our tournament.
“In Madrid she always plays well and I’m sure she will come back to the courts highly motivated and hoping to do well in her first tournaments.”
Sharapova hasn’t played on tour since testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.
However, her initial two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation, was reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Sharapova is one of those players that all tennis fans want to see,” added tournament CEO Gerard Tsobanian.
The tournament runs from May 6 to May 13. (AFP)
•Photo shows Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova.
Source Daily Sports
Posted February 9, 2017
You may also like...
Chelsea Close Academy For A Week After 20...
Roberto Carlos: Casablanca Close To Signing Zidane
Okocha lectures Iwobi on humility
Chelsea, United, City, Leicester get FA Cup 5th...
Oluehi Out of Nigeria’s WAFU Women’s Cup Squad...
Murray beats Raonic to reach final of ATP...
Latest News
_1.jpeg)
Lagos SWAN Appoints SWANECO As Buildup To Election Begins
_3.jpeg)
Esther Okoronkwo: Canadian club hails Super Falcons star who stepped up when it mattered in WAFCON final
.jpeg)
Super Falcons Over Ran Morocco In Grudge Comeback Game Confirming Mission X
Isak situation has to be right for Newcastle - Howe
Hojlund's fight to answer Man Utd's striker question
Inter to make €45m Lookman offer next week
Man Utd won't sell players on the cheap - Amorim
Players fear consequences of speaking out - Fifpro
Messi ‘very upset’ after MLS suspension for All-Star no-show
WAFCON 2024 Finale: The Grudge Game Of Wits, Brawns Ensues As Hosts Morocco Dares Nigeria
Late Drama as Morocco Files Shock Petition to Disqualify Nigeria’s Plumptre & Alozie Hours Before Final
Newcastle consider Sesko amid Isak uncertainty
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,598 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,769 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,768 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,362 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,361 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,345 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,161 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,710 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,809 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,428 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,861 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,292 views)
Lagos SWAN Appoints SWANECO As Buildup To Election Begins
Esther Okoronkwo: Canadian club hails Super Falcons star who stepped up when it mattered in WAFCON final
Super Falcons Over Ran Morocco In Grudge Comeback Game Confirming Mission X
Isak situation has to be right for Newcastle - Howe
Hojlund's fight to answer Man Utd's striker question
Inter to make €45m Lookman offer next week
Man Utd won't sell players on the cheap - Amorim
Players fear consequences of speaking out - Fifpro
Messi ‘very upset’ after MLS suspension for All-Star no-show
WAFCON 2024 Finale: The Grudge Game Of Wits, Brawns Ensues As Hosts Morocco Dares Nigeria
Late Drama as Morocco Files Shock Petition to Disqualify Nigeria’s Plumptre & Alozie Hours Before Final
Newcastle consider Sesko amid Isak uncertainty
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,598 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,769 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,768 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,362 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,361 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,345 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,161 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,710 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,809 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,428 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,861 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,292 views)