26 April,2017 07:28 AM IST | | PA Sport
Maria Sharapova's first opponent following her 15-month doping ban has queried why the Russian has been granted wild cards to compete in WTA events
Roberta Vinci
Roberta Vinci
Stuttgart: Maria Sharapova's first opponent following her 15-month doping ban has queried why the Russian has been granted wild cards to compete in WTA events.
Sharapova returns to the court at Stuttgart today, the first day when she is eligible to play again following a suspension the 30-year-old was given after testing positive for cardiac drug meldonium last January.
The former world number one no longer has a ranking and needs a wild card in order to compete in competitions such as the one in Stuttgart, where she will face 34-year-old Roberta Vinci. "I think my personal opinion is that I don't agree about the wild card here and about the wild card in Rome and the other tournaments.
"She made a mistakes for sure, but she paid (for it) and I think she can return to play, but without any wild cards," Vinci was quoted saying by The Times' website.
