Maria Sharapova is set to play in her first grand slam tournament since returning from a doping ban after receiving a wild card for the upcoming US Open.
The former world No.1 hasn’t played in a major tournament since the 2016 Australian Open after missing 15 months of the tour for failing a drugs test. Returning to competitive tennis in April, Sharapova was unable to participate in the French Open after officials declined to give her a pass into their tournament. The president of the French Tennis Federation, Bernard Giudicelli, said his decision was made ‘to protect the game.’ She later missed Wimbledon due to injury.
Sharapova, who won the US Open back in 2006, had only been able to play in one tournament since June due to injury. She has already withdrawn from Stanford, Montreal and Cincinnati with a left forearm injury. Hampering her preparations for the final major of the season.
“I arrived in Cincinnati eager to play. However, following the doctor’s advice on-site, as a precaution for the U.S. Open, I am unfortunately withdrawing from the tournament with the left forearm injury I sustained in Stanford.” The Russian said earlier in the week.
The 30-year-old currently has a win-loss record of 32-9 at Flushing Meadows. Besides being the champion in 2006, she is also a three-time semifinalist.
A total of eight wild cards has been awarded for the main draw. Five of those are American, including former junior world No.1 Taylor Townsend, USTA under 18s champion Sofia Kenin and current US Open junior champion Kayla Day.
France’s Amandine Hesse has also been given a pass into the draw. The USTA and French Tennis Association has a reciprocal agreement to allow a wild card for one french player. The same applies to Australia, who is yet to nominate their entry.
Young guns dominate male entries
In the men’s draw, every wild card entry is below the age of 25. Taylor Fritz has been granted a chance of winning his first main draw match in a grand slam tournament. The world No.120 scored his first top-10 scalp over Marin Cilic earlier this year.
Former junior grand slam champions Bjorn Fratangelo and Tommy Paul have also been given wild cards. Paul, who won the 2017 US Open wild card challenge, will play in his first major main draw since the 2015 US Open and the second of his career. Meanwhile, Fratangelo will feature in his eighth. Also joining them will be Christopher Eubanks, Thai-Son Kwiatkowski and Patrick Kypson.
The Australian and French representatives are both under the age of 19. Alex de Minaur will play in his third major tournament of the season. Last month the Australian won his first pro title in singles at a Futures event in Portugal and has already reached the final at two Challenger events. France’s Geoffrey Blancaneaux is currently ranked outside the top 300 and is best known for defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime in the boys French Open final last year.
At this year’s US Open, first round losers will take home a minimum of $50,000 in prize money.
Complete list of US Open wild cards
Women’s main draw
Maria Sharapova RUS
Taylor Townsend USA
Kayla Day USA
Sofia Kenin USA
Ashley Kratzer USA
Brienne Minor USA
Amandine Hesse FRA
Australian wild card – TBC
Women’s qualifying draw (all American)
Usue Arconada (18, College Park, Md.)
Kelly Chen (18, Cerritos, Calif.)
Francesca Di Lorenzo (20, New Albany, Ohio)
Victoria Duval (21, Bradenton, Fla.)
Ashley Lahey (17, Hawthorne, Calif.)
Ann Li (17, Devon, Pa.)
Claire Liu (17, Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
Whitney Osuigwe (15, Bradenton, Fla.)
Katerina Stewart (20, Miami)
Men’s main draw
Taylor Fritz USA
Bjorn Fratangelo USA
Christopher Eubanks USA
Thai-Son Kwiatkowski USA
Patrick Kypson USA
Tommy Paul USA
Geoffrey Blancaneaux FRA
Alex de Minaur AUS
Men’s qualifying (all American)
William Blumberg (19, Greenwich, Conn.)
Marcos Giron (24, Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
Christian Harrison (Shreveport, La.)
Evan King (Chicago)
Bradley Klahn (Poway, Calif.)
Austin Krajicek (27, Brandon, Fla.)
Daniel Nguyen (Long Beach, Calif.)
Raymond Sarmiento (25, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
JJ Wolf (19, Cincinnati)
