TENNIS : MARIA SHARAPOVA TO PLAY AT US OPEN AS WILD CARD; FIRST GRAND SLAM APPEARANCE SINCE BANNED FOR DOPING !
Controversial Tennis Star Maria Sharapova has been given wild card to play at the US Open this year.
It will be Maria Sharapova's first Grand Slam appearance since banned for 15 months for doping last year.
Sharapova was denied a wild card at the French Open in May, and didn't ask for a wild card at the following Wimbledon in July - - perhaps, knowing what was coming.
Sharapova was originally banned for 2 years but later reduced to 15 months, following her appeal.
RELATED STORY: MARIA SHARAPOVA WINS DOPING BAN APPEAL !
Maria Sharapova was found positive with an illegal substance, called Meldonium, at the Australian Open in January 2016.
She later admitted taking this drug for at least ten years. Probably longer.
Her diabetes, was her flimsy excuse.
Meldonium is a performance-enhancing drug. It increases oxygen movement to muscles, and so could enhance stamina and endurance, especially for athletes.
Meldonium was added in the list of banned substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in January 2016.
An alarming number of athletes had been using this drug - - intentionally to enhance performance - - it was revealed recently.
There were already at least 124 cases of positive drug tests for Meldonium on the WADA list -- and is growing.
RELATED STORY: MARIA SHARAPOVA SET FOR COMEBACK AFTER DOPING BAN !
Since flunking the drug test, Maria Sharapova had come under heavy fire both from inside and outside tennis.
Perhaps, the most stinging was from Tennis Hall Of Famer Jennifer Capriati who wanted Sharapova stripped of all her professional titles in tennis.
While Canadian Tennis Sensation Eugenie Bouchard had openly called Sharapova a "cheater" in her media and public statements, following Sharapova's drug scandal.
Bouchard further mocked Sharapova in their tense, can't-see-eye-to-eye duel at the Madrid Open last May where Bouchard handed Sharapova a humiliating loss.
She stomped her victory with a sarcastic Tweet "How Bow Da!" @GenieBouchard
Bouchard later revealed she received many private messages pre-match, rooting for her, as most tennis players wanted Maria Sharapova to lose.
RELATED STORY: EUGENIE BOUCHARD BEATS MARIA SHARAPOVA - - IN HER FACE !
BREAKING: @MariaSharapova given wild card for @usopen and will play first Grand Slam event in 18 months #SSN pic.twitter.com/hz9A8XZeko— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 15, 2017
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— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova is set to make her first grand slam appearance since serving a 15-month doping ban. https://t.co/rLg9SfTA07— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) August 15, 2017
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.@MariaSharapova is part of the field that will receive a wild card for the 2017 #USOpen. See entire women's list: https://t.co/9VfuwCcyoM pic.twitter.com/hb2RUVK6z7— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova has been awarded a main draw wild card for the US Open. pic.twitter.com/6pXP7nqLnw— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova has been granted a wild-card entry into the main draw of the United States Open https://t.co/tWfOfFJyAS pic.twitter.com/yUo1csjTjK— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova will play in first Grand Slam since her 15-month drugs ban. She's been given a wildcard for US Open https://t.co/lmn7UQVXdX pic.twitter.com/1gC0erGHcW— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) August 15, 2017
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US Open makes controversial decision on Maria Sharapova https://t.co/7SxWDT2HIf pic.twitter.com/n97o3Blonk— Sun Sport (@SunSport) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova set to play in first grand slam since drugs ban thanks to US Open wildcard https://t.co/n7vSrZBik0— The Independent (@Independent) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova granted wildcard entry into main draw of US Open... her first major tournament since drugs ban https://t.co/yjU0wefrka pic.twitter.com/rdbSpZ7EPU— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) August 15, 2017
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🎾@MariaSharapova awarded main draw wildcard at @usopen— TOI Sports (@toisports) August 15, 2017
Full story: https://t.co/gxFOBpr1w3 pic.twitter.com/VtYMcvWHUq
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Maria Sharapova handed wildcard for US Open https://t.co/NRzt7Jb8kb— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova granted wild-card entry into US Open https://t.co/ib6IHiTspe pic.twitter.com/LGoucW4nB9— Boston Herald (@bostonherald) August 15, 2017
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French Open ❌— Times Sport (@TimesSport) August 15, 2017
Wimbledon ❌
US Open ✅
Maria Sharapova gets wild card for final grand slam of 2017, @stu_fraser reportshttps://t.co/1Dn5L4cgtT pic.twitter.com/NWnEYPBsIB
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#USOpen2017: @MariaSharapova gets wild card entry, set to play first #GrandSlam since doping suspension— NDTV Sports (@Sports_NDTV) August 15, 2017
READ: https://t.co/mVdl4Vmp3g pic.twitter.com/kUudilXeXR
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Maria Sharapova WILL play at US Open as Russian star given wildcard #Usopen2017 #tennis #Sharapova https://t.co/laHeFuWsqt pic.twitter.com/hJrGlzHTDk— Daily Star (@Daily_Star) August 15, 2017
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.@MariaSharapova granted wild-card entry into @usopen after 15-month doping ban https://t.co/FzPnAw8SuL pic.twitter.com/TVxzdxjt78— NY Daily News Sports (@NYDNSports) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova granted wild-card entry into #USOpen https://t.co/qFdFa4p9lg pic.twitter.com/JNCnY6s5qo— CBC Sports (@cbcsports) August 15, 2017
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US Open: 'Wildcard' Maria Sharapova to make tennis grand slam return after 18 months https://t.co/4qDae516gB pic.twitter.com/Yie3v0LIPT— DNA (@dna) August 15, 2017
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.@USOpen announces wildcard for 2006 champion @MariaSharapova.— WTA (@WTA) August 15, 2017
Complete List--> https://t.co/SJZDM2FHxA pic.twitter.com/1JeNf0sYdV
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Glad to see USTA give Maria Sharapova a wild card, suspension over, great for the sport to have her back. https://t.co/0l0jJuMKfL— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) August 15, 2017
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SHE'S BACK! @MariaSharapova granted @usopen wildcard after months in #tennis wilderness https://t.co/pXE4GF2lWS pic.twitter.com/DAE3tZNxGo— telegraph_sport (@telegraph_sport) August 15, 2017
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#MariaSharapova received #USOpen wildcard and will play her first Grand Slam since serving doping suspensionhttps://t.co/ShNoGyATnw— FirstpostSports (@FirstpostSports) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova given US Open wildcard as she prepares for first Grand Slam appearance in 18 months https://t.co/0sBpLDLWeN pic.twitter.com/bzMtmukTRz— Mirror Sport (@MirrorSport) August 15, 2017
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USTA has awarded Maria Sharapova a main draw wildcard @usopen. pic.twitter.com/6Cz0gDMMuo— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 15, 2017
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Further comment from the USTA on Maria Sharapova's wild card. She has volunteered to speak to young US players about anti-doping programme. pic.twitter.com/YgsC0ZUrE5— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) August 15, 2017
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Maria Sharapova is set to make her first grand slam appearance since serving a 15-month doping ban.
Posted by CNN Sport on Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Can she win it?
Posted by BBC Sport on Tuesday, 15 August 2017
US Open Tennis Championships announces wildcard for 2006 champion Maria Sharapova.
Complete list ⬇️
Posted by WTA on Tuesday, 15 August 2017
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