does maria sharapova deserve wildcards?

The Stuttgart tournament marks Maria Sharapova’s return from a 15-month drugs ban but not everybody is happy that La Sharapova has gotten a wildcard upon her return. Caroline Wozniacki, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried state their opinion about the wildcards given out to people come back after a drugs ban.

I think it’s questionable

“I think it’s very questionable, allowing – no matter who it is – a player that is still banned to play a tournament that week,” Caroline Wozniacki said. “I think it’s disrespectful to the other players and the WTA.”

While Wozniacki has no problem with Sharapova returning to the game but would rather see Sharapova fight her way back from the bottom. “I think everyone deserves a second chance, and I think that she’s going to come back and she’s going to fight her way back.”

“I’m sure she’s going to play well. But at the same time, I feel like when a player is banned for drugs, I think that someone should start from the bottom and fight their way back, because it’s different from an injury where someone is out because they had hurt themselves.

“When someone has been banned for drugs and something that is performance enhancing, I think that you deserve a second chance like everybody else, people make mistakes. But I think you should fight your way back from the bottom.”

It is a German tournament

Angelique Kerber thinks that it is a strange situation and would rather have a German player to benefit from the wild card to promote German tennis.

“This is, all over, a strange situation. I don’t know what to say about this because it’s a little bit strange for the other players that somebody can just walk on site Wednesday and play Wednesday,” added Kerber. “This is a German tournament.”

Like giving a sweet to a kid who did a bad thing

“I would not do it,” he said. “It’s like if you give a sweet to a kid who did a bad thing, it’s going to do it again. It sends the wrong message,” Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

There are no rules when it comes to wild cards

“The tournaments are well within their rights to give a wild card, there’s nothing saying they can’t,” he said. “There’s no rule in place, so the tournaments are going to do what they think is best for their event. But should you get a wild card into every event when you come back? I’m not sure about that. That’s something that maybe should be looked at.”

Simona Halep welcomes return of Maria Sharapova

“She was number one in the world and won Grand Slam titles. But even without wild cards she could come back easily. Her return is good for tennis. She is impatient, she wants to play and win,” said Simona Halep

It was a mistake, she’s not a cheater

“I’ve been supportive to her because I don’t think this thing was really that serious. I understand, because if we talk about cheaters, people who cheat, you would say, ‘Why would cheaters get a wild card?’ But then if there is some mistake, you know, it’s a little bit of a different story. But it’s really hard to say. I understand all the sides.

Maria Sharapova may receive unlimited wildcards

#WTA explaining rules behind @MariaSharapova‘s wild card entry into Stuttgart. No favors granted, Maria’s eligibility compliant with rules. pic.twitter.com/JfsvfSP4dO

— IMG Tennis (@IMGTennis) 13 maart 2017

Do you think that Maria Sharapova deserves a second chance? And what do you think are the odds of her reaching the top 10 without any wildcards? In my opinion: She did the crime and she did the time. Just let her back in and whether you like it or not; tennis needs a Maria Sharapova to draw large audiences and promote the sport. She will have to work hard to regain the public’s trust as well so keep that in mind as well.

Let us know what you think of Sharapova’s wild card rollercoaster ride by dropping a comment.