Return will be ‘tough’ for Sharapova: Gasquet

BEIJING: French tennis player Richard Gasquet – who was once banned after testing positive for cocaine – said Wednesday that Maria Sharapova will face a “tough”

BEIJING: French tennis player Richard Gasquet – who was once banned after testing positive for cocaine – said Wednesday that Maria Sharapova will face a “tough” return when her 15-month doping ban ends next year.

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Gasquet faced an emotional comeback himself after he tested positive for cocaine at the Miami Open in 2009.

“It is never easy to come back, of course. I think she had 15 months... it’s quite long to come back (after that). Mentally and physically it will be tough for her,” said Gasquet. “(Sharapova) need(s) to play enough and of course it will be ok for her in the future. We will see... for every case it is different,” he added.

EX-BOYFRIEND SAYS ‘SHE DESERVED BAN’

BEIJING: Maria Sharapova’s ex-boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday suggested she deserved her ban from tennis for a doping offence. “I think tennis misses her,” the Bulgarian world No 20 said of the five-time Grand Slam champion, adding that he had “zero doubts” she would make a successful return.

“As a competitor she’s just going to come back and she’s going to be so hungry to play and excited and motivated,” said Dimitrov, who dated the Russian superstar for two years until they split in July 2015.