STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Patuloy ang patutsada laban kay Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, ngunit may ilan ding top ranked player ang dumepensa para sa kanyang pagbabalik sa international tennis sa pamamagitan ng wild card entry sa Porsche Grand Prix.
Kapwa kinondena nina Simona Halep at Alize Cornet ang organizer sa anila’y pagbibigay ng direktang slot sa main draw sa nasuspindeng si Sharapova.
“For the kids, for the young players, it is not OK to help with a wild card the player that was banned for doping,” spahayag ng fifth-ranked na si Halep.
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“It is not about Maria Sharapova here, but it is about all the players that are found doped. I cannot support what the tournament director did, but also I cannot judge,” aniya.
Sa panayam ng French sports daily L’Equipe, sinabi ni Cornet na sampal sa sports at sa WTA ang desisyon ng organizer na bigyan ng wild card ang 28-anyos na tennis icon.
“Generally speaking, I find it shameful that the WTA is promoting a player who tested positive after all. It’s normal that people talk about her, she’s an immense champion, but from there to promoting her return to such an extent ... I find that unjust,” sambit ng 41st-ranked Frenchwoman.
Natapos na ang 15 buwang suspensiyon kay Sharapova bunsod nang pag-positibo sa ‘meldonium’ na isinama ng World Anti-Drug Agency (WADA) sa ipinagbabawal na gamot nito lamang 2016. Inamin ni Sharapova ang paggamit ng naturang gamot bilang medikasyon sa kanyang karamdaman may 10 taon na ang nakalilipas.
Makakaharap ng five-time Grand Slam champion at dating world No. 1 sa first round si Roberta Vinci ng Italy na hindi pa nananalo kay Sharapova. Kampeon ang Russian star dito mula 2012-14.
Nauna nang nagbigay ng kanilang pagkadismaya sina Caroline Wozniacki, Dominika Cibulkova, Agnieszka Radwanska at Angelique Kerber.
Ngunit, nakakuha ng kasangga si Sharapova kina Karolina Pliskova at dating world No.1 Kim Clijsters ng Belgium.
“Definitely it’s a big thing for this tournament, not only for Stuttgart but for all the tournaments that are going to be next,” sambit ng second-seeded Czech.
“From the tournaments’ side it’s a big plus. Obviously when Serena is going to be out now, tennis definitely needs a star like (Sharapova) is so I don’t have anything against it.”
“She has done her punishment, I was disappointed and surprised when the news came out but she’s had the career that she’s had and I don’t think she needs to be punished more,” sangga naman ni Clijters.
