As the debate continues over whether certain tennis tour organisers have done the right thing by providing wild card entries to the "disgraced" Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis star has given something back to her critics on Friday May 19.
The 30-year-old Sharapova has chosen not to wait for a wild card entry to participate directly to the main draw of Wimbledon 2017, but rather she is keen on sweating it out to make it to the main draw, by playing in the Wimbledon 2017 qualifying round, that takes place in Roehampton.
The Russian star has given out this statement on her website after she was not awarded a wild card entry for the French Open 2017.
Her full statement:
Hello Everyone,
An update on my grass court tournament schedule.
A few months ago, I received a wild card offer from Birmingham, one of my most memorable tournaments as a young player. I am so grateful and excited to be playing this event again!
Because of my improved ranking after the first three tournaments of my return, I will also be playing the Qualifying of Wimbledon in Roehampton, and will not be requesting a wild card into the main draw.I have already started getting treatment on the injury I sustained a few days ago in Rome, and will begin my preparation as soon I get better.
Maria
Sharapova's won against Christina McHale in the first round of the Italian Open 2017 tennis tournament earlier this month, thus making it to the inaugural stages of Wimbledon or the qualifying rounds.
The tennis beauty, unfortunately, had to retire in-between her second round match against Lucic-Baroni, with a left thigh injury, while she was leading 4-6 6-3 2-1. Sharapova needed to reach at least the semi-finals of the Italian Open to qualify for the main draw of Wimbledon 2017.
