Women's Tennis Association Chief Executive Steve Simon has defended the wildcard entry awarded to former world number one Maria Sharapova.
Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva continued her giant-slaying exploits at the Dubai Tennis Championships by upsetting Kazakhstani sixth seed Elena Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the semi-finals on Friday.
The verdict in Maria Sharapova's appeal against a two-year doping ban will be announced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday.
Maria Sharapova had not completed a match since losing at Wimbledon in July, so the Russian was naturally thrilled to emerge with a victory at the WTA finals on Sunday after taking time to heal from a number of ailments.
'I definitely feel the respect from the athletes. Certainly when I play against them, in terms of the level they play with'
Maria Sharapova remained on course for consecutive Madrid Open titles when she recovered from dropping the second set to beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 on Thursday and book a spot in the semi-finals.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova made a winning comeback to the tour on Wednesday following her 15-month doping ban, beating Italian Roberta Vinci in straight sets in the first round of the Stuttgart Grand Prix.
'She has been my crush since I started playing tennis. I was thrilled to see her in person. She was very charming.'
It will be the 22nd career match-up between the two long-time rivals, who somehow have avoided each other at the US Open throughout their long careers.
Serena Williams, the top-ranked player in women's tennis, said on Tuesday she was shocked to hear her friend and fellow tennis star Maria Sharapova had failed a drug test, but she commended Sharapova for showing courage in taking responsibility.
Maria Sharapova will not care less what reception she receives when she plays her first Australian Open match since completing a doping ban on Tuesday, according to three-times Melbourne winner Mats Wilander.
One of Maria Sharapova's biggest sponsors, Nike Inc., said it was suspending ties while the case is being investigated.
Former champion Maria Sharapova found inspiration in a change of dress to put away unseeded American Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-0 at the Australian Open on Friday and set up an intriguing fourth round match with rising Swiss talent Belinda Bencic.
Serena Williams outplayed Maria Sharapova to claim the 2015 Australian Open championship in straight sets on Saturday.
Maria Sharapova took a marathon three hours, 27 minutes to beat Medina Garrigues 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 while Amelie Mauresmo overcame Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 to make it to the quarter-finals of the Amelia Island Championships.
Former champion Maria Sharapova's hopes of playing at this year's Wimbledon championships could hinge on a June 20 meeting of tournament organisers unless the Russian hits form in forthcoming events in Madrid and Rome.
The Indian ace had trouble returning Sharapova's serves and watched the Russian tear apart her second serve in the quarter-finals of the San Diego Classic.
The 30-year-old Russian, who returned last month from a 15-month doping ban, said on her website she would play in the qualifying event staged the week before.
List of Wimbledon women's singles champions after Iga Swiatek beat Amanda Anisimova in the final on Saturday:
Maria Sharapova blocked out a 28-minute horror show to beat Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka eased past Maria Kirilenko to set up a heavyweight French Open semi-final in Paris on Wednesday.
Top seed Simona Halep was pooled with grand slam winners Maria Sharapova and Flavia Pennetta in a formidable looking Red Group for the end-of-season WTA Finals on Friday.
The level of media coverage surrounding Maria Sharapova's return to tennis from a doping suspension has been a key factor in the five-time Grand Slam winner being offered wildcards to events, men's world number one Andy Murray has said.
A lengthy ban for doping would be devastating for five-times grand slam champion Maria Sharapova but she would survive it, Nick Bollettieri, the man who discovered her, said on Tuesday.
Former champions Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova advanced to the semi-finals of the Indian Wells WTA tournament in sharply contrasting fashion on Thursday.
Holder Marion Bartoli advanced to the quarter-finals of the Stanford Classic on Thursday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over former world number one Ana Ivanovic, while Maria Sharapova also advanced to the last eight. Russian Sharapova, a three-times Grand Slam winner, beat Belarus's Olga Govortsova 6-3, 6-3 while Maria Kirilenko defeated sixth seed Shahar Peer 6-4, 6-3.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport will rule in the first week of October on five-times grand slam champion Maria Sharapova's appeal against a two-year tennis ban, the sports tribunal said on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Russian was banned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in June following a positive test for the banned drug meldonium during January's Australian Open.
Maria Sharapova has approached the Supreme Court of Florida to change her name in line with the brand of lollies she launched, media reports said.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko in the quarter-finals of the Warsaw Open on Thursday. Russian Sharapova was making her comeback at the tournament after a shoulder injury had prevented her playing singles since last August.
Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis lost to Nikolay Davydenko in the third round in Miami
The 16-year-old Sharapova won her first WTA title, something her better-known compatriot is yet to achieve.
Top seed Maria Sharapova overcame a second-set wobble to beat Tsvetana Pironkova 7-6, 6-7, 6-0 and reach the Wimbledon third round.
The American ace proved too good for the second seed in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Fifth seed Maria Sharapova, the last giant left in the women's draw, powered into the Wimbledon semi-finals after being head and shoulders above diminutive Slovak Dominika Cibulkova in a 6-1, 6-1 demolition on Tuesday.
Russian Maria Sharapova produced a blistering performance to overpower world number one Justine Henin 6-4 6-0 in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday.
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