Maria Sharapova of Russia has been awarded a wildcard entry into the Toronto WTA tournament Montreal - Former world number one Maria Sharapova Air Max 2017 Sale , making a comeback after a 15-month doping ban, has been awarded a wildcard entry into the Toronto WTA tournament, Tennis Canada announced Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Russian star, a five-time Grand Slam champion, was refused a wildcard spot by French Open organizers but Sharapova has said she will play in Wimbledon qualifying, needing three wins to reach the main draw.
Sharapova will make her first appearance in Canada since 2014 at the Rogers Cup Air Max 2018 Sale , to be played August 7-13, as a hardcourt tuneup for the year's final Grand Slam event, the US Open, which begins on August 28.
"I'm really looking forward to coming back to Canada," Sharapova said. "I have some great memories of playing Toronto in the past and the tournament and the fans have always been so supportive. This is one of the biggest events of the year and I hope to play my best tennis that week."
Sharapova was issued a two-year suspension after testing positive for the banned heart drug meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the ban on appeal.
Sharapova Air Max 90 Sale , ranked 173rd in the world, made her tour return last month at Stuttgart, reaching the semifinals.
Her best showing in Canada came in 2009 when she reached the Toronto final.