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US Open 2017: Maria Sharapova granted wild-card berth

By Maxwell Ogden

STANFORD, CA - JULY 31: Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates a win in her match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 1 of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University Taube Family Tennis Stadium on July 31, 2017 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
STANFORD, CA - JULY 31: Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates a win in her match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 1 of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University Taube Family Tennis Stadium on July 31, 2017 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Having completed a 15-month doping ban, former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova has been granted a wild-card invitation to the 2017 US Open.

Maria Sharapova is one of the most polarizing players in all of tennis. That escalated when she received a 15-month doping ban for a substance that had been recently outlawed: Meldonium, which is used to treat coronary heart disease, and is perceived as a performance enhancing drug.

After an extended absence, Sharapova will receive her highly-anticipated opportunity to return to the ranks of the elite.

Sharapova’s doping ban concluded in April, and she made a strong return at Stuttgart with a trip to the semifinals. She’s struggled ever since, but has secured wins over the likes of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Ekaterina Makarova, and Roberta Vinci.

In a press release, the USTA announced that Sharapova will have an opportunity to make a triumphant return to the 2017 US Open with a wild-card berth.

This could be an incredible opportunity for one of the most decorated champions in WTA tennis to return to form.

Sharapova, 30, is one of the select few players to have won the Career Slam. She won her first title in 2004 at Wimbledon, and has gone on to record five Grand Slam titles in all—including the 2006 US Open crown.

Sharapova has an additional five Grand Slam finals on her resume, as well as an additional 10 trips to the semifinals.

Sharapova has missed six consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, but she’ll have a chance to find her form in New York.

Sharapova last played at the US Open in 2014, when she reached the fourth round. She made the semifinals the year prior, however, and reached the quarterfinals during her most recent Grand Slam event: The 2016 Australian Open.

The question is: Can Sharapova make an immediate return to form at Flushing Meadows? Or will this serve as more of a stepping stone?

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Maria Sharapova will have a chance to rewrite her narrative come the 2017 US Open.

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