Five-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova has been given a wild card to play in the Italian Open in May, organisers said on Wednesday.
The former world No 1 makes her return to the circuit in Stuttgart in April after completing a 15-month ban for doping.
“We officially announce the wild card for the 3-time Rome champion @MariaSharapova into the main draw ... “ organisers announced on Twitter.
Sharapova hasn’t played on tour since testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. An initial two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) was reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Rome tournament runs from May 15 to May 21. She has also been handed a wild card for the May 6-13 Madrid Open.
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Her wild card for Rome comes the day after men’s world No 1 Andy Murray spoke out against giving wild cards to players returning from doping bans.
With Sharapova’s ban ending in April, Wimbledon organisers are grappling with the potential dilemma of whether to hand the 2004 champion a place in this year’s competition in July.
"I think you should really have to work your way back. However, the majority of tournaments are going to do what they think is best for their event," Murray told the Times newspaper.
“If they think having big names there is going to sell more seats, then they’re going to do that. She (Sharapova) has an opportunity to try to improve her ranking up until that point and potentially not need a wild card.”
“But then if she doesn’t, that becomes Wimbledon’s decision and how they want to play that,” added the Briton.
“I’m sure they’ll think long and hard about it and how they feel people will view it and then make the right decision for them.”
Murray made his return to competitive action at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday, defeating Tunisian Malek Jaziri in straight sets.
* Agencies
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