Maria Sharapova’s French Open fate will be announced on May 16

Maria Sharapova returns the ball during a training session at the WTA Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on April 26, 2017. Bernd Weissbrod / AFP

Maria Sharapova will know on May 16 if she will be granted a wild card invitation for the French Open, the organisers of the May 28-June 11 grand slam tournament said on Wednesday.

French federation president Bernard Giudicelli told a news conference on Wednesday they would make a public decision on Facebook on May 16 at 9pm UAE time.

“There is no reason why we should make an exception for Maria Sharapova. There is no reason why we should announce a wild card before the others,” Giudicelli said.

Giudicelli said he will discuss the matter with tournament director Guy Forget on May 15.

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Former world No 1 Sharapova, 30, is returning to action on Wednesday from a 15-month doping ban after being awarded a wild card for the Stuttgart clay court tournament.

“The tournament is bigger than the players,” added Giudicelli, who said he would call Sharapova before the decision is made public.

With 23-time major champion American Serena Williams already out of the picture because she is expecting a child, the tournament would be deprived of the other big name of women’s tennis if organisers decided not to invite Sharapova, a two-time French Open champion.

Giudicelli, however, said this would not be a factor.

“This is not a cast. This is not a rock opera,” said Giudicelli.

Sharapova’s invitation for the Stuttgart tournament raised eyebrows in the tennis community, with Romanian Simona Halep, who was defeated by Sharapova in the 2014 French Open final, saying: “For the kids, for the young players, it is not OK to help with a wild card the player that was banned for doping.

“It is not about Maria Sharapova here, but it is about all the players that are found doped.”

Women’s Tennis Association chief Steve Simon defended Sharapova, saying she does not need to be punished more.

* Reuters

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