Title: Back in the Game: Maria Sharapova Gets US Open Wild Card after 15-Month Hiatus
Maria Sharapova, former world no. 1 and five-time Grand Slam champion, hasn't graced the Grand Slam courts since 2016. However, that's all set to change with the US Open announcing the return of this tennis titan to its main draw.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) recently announced this exciting development on a Tuesday, also revealing granting wild cards to several other players, including Taylor Townsend, Keira Day, Sofia Kenin, Ashley Sieber, Brian Minor, and Amandine Hesse.
Sharapova, now 30, returned to the WTA Tour in April after serving a 15-month ban. Although she quickly rose to the top of the world rankings, her fierce journey to regain her spot saw a significant drop in her ranking due to the suspension. Consequently, she missed out on participating in the main draws of Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, which necessitated a wild card entry.
Credit: aussiedlerbote.de
In May, the French Tennis Federation declined Sharapova's request for a wild card entry at the French Open. Undaunted, she chose to participate in the Wimbledon qualification tournament instead of applying for a wild card directly. Unfortunately, an upper thigh injury sustained during the Italian Open held her back from participating at Wimbledon.
Maria Sharapova last made a Grand Slam appearance in the 2016 Australian Open, where she lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. Her last Grand Slam title came in 2014, at the French Open. In the US Open, she reached the semifinals in 2005 and 2012.
Credit: aussiedlerbote.de
Serena Williams criticized gender pay gaps in tennis in March 2016, a month after Sharapova's doping ban was announced. The International Tennis Federation initially suspended Sharapova for two years, which was later reduced to 15 months following an appeal.
Whether or not Sharapova will continue her comeback at the US Open is still unclear. As of now, it appears she's not competing in the 2023 edition.
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_{[1]: "Maria Sharapova returns to tennis training amid doping suspension," . [2]: "Maria Sharapova to retire from tennis," . [3]: "Maria Sharapova to be banned from tennis for two years for doping violation," . [4]: "Maria Sharapova wins her first Grand Slam title with victory over Serena Williams at the French Open," . }
