World number one Andy Murray expects Maria Sharapova to play at Wimbledon this year. Whether or not she makes the final cut, Murray expects the All England Club to give her a lifeline. This comes as a surprise as Andy Murray backtracks on his Sharapova statement which he made some time ago.
Murray had claimed the players who had served doping suspensions should not be given tournament wildcards. This was in reference to Sharapova getting a wildcard entry at the Stuttgart Open.
Now there is a possibility that Sharapova will get another wildcard for the Wimbledon Open. But Murray says that she might get in anyway.
“There might not even be a decision to be made because she might be in the main draw after Madrid or Rome,” Murray said at the launch of next month’s Queen’s tournament on Tuesday.
“I think there’s a good chance Wimbledon would give her one to get into qualifiers. I’m not sure what they will do but I’m sure they are hoping they don’t have to make the decision.
“There’s a good chance that she can get in by right, which I’m sure is what she’s hoping for and that’s what Wimbledon would be hoping for.”
Murray also spoke about his struggles this year as many claim that his World No One ranking has heaped unnecessary pressure on the Brit.
“I think that was more like at the end of last year,” he said. “All that stuff felt a bit different to me. I’m now getting asked about it every week.
“It’s almost like trying to find a reason for why this year hasn’t been as good as the end of last year but it did not have anything to do with being world number one, in my opinion.
ALSO READ : Rafael Nadal speaks about his future and the ATP Rankings
“I haven’t felt different when I go on to the court, I didn’t feel different when I was preparing for the Australian Open as I did in previous years. I really don’t think it has been anything to do with that.
“Definitely at the end of last year, there was a lot going on. But this year and especially the last few months, I haven’t felt any different or any extra pressure when I go on the court.
“Maybe now when you lose as number one, it’s a bigger story. It feels like each time you lose, it’s treated like more of a surprise.
“But I have lost early in Monte Carlo before, I’ve lost early in Indian Wells before, I’ve started clay-court seasons badly, I’ve had difficult runs and I also wasn’t number one, so I really don’t think it’s to do with that.
“It’s been a tricky year so far, and I’m hoping now that I’m through the worst of it and I can finish strong.”
