Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis juggernaut sidelined for fifteen months due to her usage of a banned substance, has copped an absolute scorching from Eugenie Bouchard – and they’re not even set to face each other.
Bouchard, hardly the most stoic player on the circuit, gave her take on Sharapova’s return to the game after she was found to have unintentionally taken meldonium.
During her showing at the Istanbul Open, the Canuck said “I don’t think it’s right” that Sharapova should be granted entry back into the professional scene following the ban.
The world #59 went on to label Sharapova a “cheater”, saying “I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again.” Again, the Court of Arbitration for Sport went out of their way in their ruling to point out Sharapova didn’t knowingly use a banned substance.
Genie on Sharapova!
Full interview: https://t.co/WUdE4ilKnB pic.twitter.com/Lf38DKOMmS— Genie Bouchard News (@genie_news) April 26, 2017
She also reckoned Sharapova isn’t someone she “can look up to anymore,” and that the whole deal “ruined” it for her.
FWIW, Sharapova did end up winning her first match back against Italian Roberta Vinci in Stuttgart advancing to the next round with a 7-5, 6-3 victory. Watch this space for more Bouchard comments if the former world number one works her way any further back up the ranks.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty.
Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty.
