Sharapova awarded US Open wildcard

Former world No 1 Maria Sharapova will make her first grand slam appearance in over 18 months after she was awarded a main-draw wildcard for the upcoming U.S. Open, organisers said on Tuesday. The 30-year-old Russian, who returned from a 15-month doping ban earlier this year, was denied a wildcard at the French Open, then missed the grasscourt season, including Wimbledon, with a thigh injury. Sharapova tweeted on Tuesday: "Thank you, @usopen. This is so so special. #goosebumps".

Thank you, @usopen. This is so so special. #goosebumps https://t.co/MnolaaqKsN

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) August 15, 2017

Sharapova tested positive for the drug meldonium in 2016, which had been added to the World Anti-Doping Agency banned substances list in January of that year. The winner of five grand slam titles, including the 2006 U.S. Open, said she was unaware of the change.

"Her suspension under the terms of the tennis anti-doping programme was completed and therefore was not one of the factors weighed in our wild card selection process," the United States Tennis Association said in a statement.

"Additionally, Sharapova has volunteered to speak to young tennis players at the USTA National Campus about the importance of the tennis anti-doping programme and the personal responsibility each player has to comply with the programme's requirements." Sharapova's U.S. Open preparation have been disrupted by an arm injury suffered during her first-round win over Jennifer Brady at the Stanford Classic earlier this month.

.@USOpen announces wildcard for 2006 champion @MariaSharapova. Complete List--> https://t.co/SJZDM2FHxA pic.twitter.com/1JeNf0sYdV— WTA (@WTA) August 15, 2017

The world No 148 was forced to withdraw from the Rogers Cup and this week's Cincinnati Open as a precautionary measure before the final grand slam of the year. Other wildcard recipients on the women's side were Americans Taylor Townsend, Kayla Day, Sofia Kenin, Ashley Kratzer, Brienne Minor and France's Amandine Hesse.

.@MariaSharapova is part of the field that will receive a wild card for the 2017 #USOpen. See entire women's list: https://t.co/9VfuwCcyoM pic.twitter.com/hb2RUVK6z7

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 15, 2017

The U.S. Open runs from Aug. 28 to Sept. 10 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York. Both the men's and women's singles champion this year will earn $3.7m.