Explorer

Sharapova gets another wildcard, will play in Cincinnati Masters

Johannesburg [South Africa], July 28 (ANI): Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova's dreams of bringing her career back on track following her 15-month doping suspension received a major boost, as she has received another wild card entry into the Cincinnati WTA tournament.

The Cincinnati event, which is a key warm-up for the final major of the season--US Open, also granted a wildcard to Belarusian star Victoria Azarenka who recently made a comeback to the tennis court following maternity leave.

Reflecting on the same, tournament director Andre Silva said that Sharapova and Azarenka have been granted wildcard in a bid to add to their already strong player field.

"The addition of these players add to our already strong player field. We anticipate the WTA's No 1 ranking to be on the line during the tournament and adding players of this calibre will make the battle for the top spot even more compelling,"Sport24 quoted Silva as saying.

30-year-old Sharapova emerged as a winner in Cincinnati in 2011 while Azarenka clinched the title just two years later.

The Cincinnati Masters is slated to begin from August 12 and runs until August 20.

Sharapova's comeback has already been disrupted by a hip muscle injury, but she looks adamant to tackle the US hardcourt season well.

The Russian, who made a return without a ranking in April and has since then risen to 173 in the world after receiving wildcards in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome, had earlier also received a wildcard entry for Stanford tournament and she prepares to compete in the tournament for the first time six years.

In April at the Stuttgart Open, Sharapova played her first match since her quarter-final defeat to former world number one Serena Williams at the 2016 Australian Open, where she was tested positive for banned substance Meldonium.

Her earlier two-year ban was reduced to 15 months following an appeal to the court of arbitration for sport, which concluded she had not intended to cheat. (ANI)


This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headline

Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: UN Steps In As Case Against Delhi CM Heats Up Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections
Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: UN Steps In As Case Against Delhi CM Heats Up Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections
'My Father Was Given Slow Poison': Son Umar On Mukhtar Ansari's Death
'My Father Was Given Slow Poison': Son Umar On Mukhtar Ansari's Death
WATCH | PM Modi Explains To Bill Gates How Researchers Can Collect Data From Masses Without Invading Privacy
WATCH | PM Modi Explains To Bill Gates How Researchers Can Collect Data From Masses Without Invading Privacy
Months After Praful Patel Joins NDA, CBI Closes Probe In UPA-Era Aircraft Leasing Case
Months After Praful Patel Joins NDA, CBI Closes Probe In UPA-Era Aircraft Leasing Case
Advertisement
for smartphones
and tablets

Videos

Mukhtar Ansari Death: Post mortem to begin soon amid heavy security, watch ground report | ABP NewsMukhtar Ansari Death: BSP Chief Mayawati Calls For 'High-Level Probe'Mukhtar Ansari Death: Nephew Of Krishnanand Rai Reacts To Mukhtar Ansari's DeathPanel Of 2 Doctors To Conduct Post-Mortem On Mukhtar Ansari's Body

Photogallery

Embed widget