Maria Sharapova has opted to not seek a wild-card into the main draw at Wimbledon this year, choosing instead to try and win a spot via the qualifiers.
“Because of my improved ranking after the first three tournaments of my return, I will also be playing the qualifying of Wimbledon in Roehampton, and will not be requesting a wild-card into the main draw,” Sharapova said on Friday in a statement on her website.
The 30-year-old Russian will have to win three qualifying round matches to earn a spot in the main draw.
Sharapova’s current ranking of 211, while good enough to earn her a spot in the qualifiers, is short of eligibility for an automatic place in the main draw.
She seemed to be well on track to pushing for a spot at the grass-court Slam. Requiring to make at least the semifinals at the Italian Open in Rome, Sharapova retired in her second-round match against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, while she was leading in the third set on a day when the French tennis federation had announced that it would not grant her a wild-card for Roland Garros.
Meanwhile, the organisers have announced that the Wimbledon qualifiers at Roehampton will be ticketed for the first time this year. Tickets will be £5 each with all funds going to the Wimbledon Foundation.
