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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Sharapova's Return Could Be Well-Needed Injection Of Star Power For Women's Tennis

The sport of tennis right now needs Maria Sharapova "almost as badly as she needs tennis," as the women’s game is "desperately seeking an injection of star power," according to Gaurav Kalra of the ECONOMIC TIMES. Serena Williams "won’t play for the rest of the year as she is pregnant," and other top players such as Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Garbine Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska have been "unable to break away from the pack to build a fan following." But the return of the 30-year-old Sharapova comes off to some as a "desperate ploy to ensure the women’s circuit retains its appeal among fans" (ECONOMICTIMES.com, 4/28). TENNIS.com's Nina Pantic wrote it is "hard to ignore that her comeback is a huge boost to the game -- just one look at Wednesday’s sold-out crowd in Stuttgart confirmed that." The WTA is "all but begging for fresh star power" (TENNIS.com, 4/27). In N.Y., Charly Wilder noted despite the "hovering cloud of controversy, Sharapova’s return no doubt comes as a relief to a women’s tour reeling" from the news of Williams' pregnancy, as Williams is "perhaps the only player capable of drawing bigger crowds than Sharapova" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/27).

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE: WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Dir Markus Guenthardt said Sharapova was given a wild-card entry to the Stuttgart event because the Court of Arbitration for Sport "clearly stated she's not an intentional doper." Guenthardt noted Sharapova "immediately assumed responsibility and has not tried to hide anything." Guenthardt: "She has every right in the world to come back.” Guenthardt, noting that Sharapova has won the event three times, said, "She has done a lot for the tournament. ... The public in Stuttgart deserves a chance to see Maria come back” (“Porsche Tennis Grand Prix,” beIN Sports, 4/26). The Washington Post’s Kevin Blackistone said Sharapova should be allowed back despite the objections of several fellow players. He said a tournament's wild-card entries are "used for anything that a tournament wants to use it for." Blackistone: "Obviously this tournament wants to bring some notoriety, and they brought in Maria Sharapova. That’s what her career has been most about -- notoriety” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 4/27).

BIG BUSINESS: ESPN's J.A. Adande noted the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix officials are running a "business -- it’s not just athletic competition -- so you want to sell tickets and generate attention." Adande: "Why not have one of the biggest names in your sport involved, especially at a time when Serena Williams is out while she’s pregnant?” The Colorado Spring Gazette's Woody Paige: "You have to realize what was going on with this tournament. It is sponsored by Porsche. Her No. 1 sponsor is Porsche. They were going to do everything they could to let her come back for that” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 4/27).

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