The controversy over wildcards may run and run, but Maria Sharapova insists she is not getting anything for free.
‘I’m coming here with no ranking. I’m not getting a wildcard to receive a trophy or a golden platter,’ said the 30-year-old Russian after her victorious comeback from a 15-month doping ban.
The champagne corks will not be popping within the women’s locker room, but those inhabiting the inner sanctum will have to get used to having her back.
On the exact day that her suspension expired, the five-times Grand Slam champion served notice that she will once again be a force to reckon with by beating world No 36 Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes.
Sharapova took advantage of her controversial entry into the Stuttgart Grand Prix with sufficient aplomb to suggest that she might even make the French Open and Wimbledon under her own steam, without the need for any further charity.
‘It was the best feeling in the world, I have been waiting for this moment for a long time,’ said Sharapova, who was more the ice queen later when faced with less gushing questions.
Asked what she is now using as a substitute for the Mildronate that earned her the ban, and which she has insisted was so important for her general health, she replied: ‘That information is between myself, the WTA and the orthopaedic doctor I’m working with.’
As Eugenie Bouchard became the latest of her peers to verbally assail her, she reasoned: ‘I can’t control what people say.’
For Sharapova Wednesday night was a promising start to her campaign to gain enough points to play at the French Open and Wimbledon, by qualifying if necessary. ‘I think I would be prepared to play in the juniors if I had to,’ she said.
'Everyone knows what a competitor I am and I won’t take anything for granted.'
The nearest she strayed from guarded diplomacy was when she made no attempt to distance herself from the remarks of her agent, Max Eisenbud, about Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska, in which he described them as ‘journeyman players.'
She almost seemed to endorse them. ‘I don’t control my manager’s words,’ she said. ‘He has been watching everyone’s comments in the last 15 months and he is entitled to his own opinion.'
Even Wozniacki and Radwanska have not gone as far as Bouchard did on Wednesday night.
Describing Sharapova as a ‘cheater’, she said: ‘I think from the WTA it sends the wrong message to young kids — 'Cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms'
Beaten Vinci was reasonably generous: ‘She played a high level,’ she said. ‘But then she hasn’t been out with an injury, she’s been practising a lot at home. She was very focused.’
Sharapova’s serve was especially strong. While she pressed too hard on her forehand at times, it also delivered a welter of winners and her ear-splitting shriek filled the venue.
Understandably tight in the first set, and missing a lot at the start, she only converted two of eight break points in the opener. But she wreaked havoc with her aggressive returning and always looked the likely winner after recovering from a 0-2 deficit.
At the end she stood on the baseline, bent over in delight and signalling at her support team. She had made her point, and may do so many more times. Next up is Ekaterina Makarova.
Earlier, Jo Konta had overcome Japan’s Naomi Osaka 7-6, 3-6, 6-1. It was a decent result, having only arrived on Monday afternoon from a fairly traumatic Fed Cup match outdoors in Romania.
The world No 7 now meets Latvian Anastasija Sevastova on Thursday afternoon for a place in the quarter-finals.
In the Barcelona ATP Tour event, Andy Murray received an unexpected day of rest when his second-round opponent, Bernard Tomic, withdrew due to a bad back. The Scot faces Spain’s Feliciano Lopez on Thursday.
Credit:Daily Mail
