Wild Card Sharapova Criticized for Getting All Main Court Matches

The U.S. Open tennis championship is being scrutinized for laying out the red carpet for former world number one Maria Sharapova, who recently served a 15-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance.

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The five-time grand slam winner has been given all prime time spots, at the tournament, to the dismay of her colleagues. Sharapova, who is currently ranked 146th, has played her first three of her matches on the famed Arthur Ashe Stadium main court.

And, her upcoming fixture is also scheduled for the court.

The main courts are usually reserved for high-ranked players. All of the Russians' opponents were ranked low, except world number two Simona Halep, who she dispatched in the opener.

Unlike the French Open and Wimbledon, the Russian was given a wild card to get into the main draw of the tournament.

"When you look on center court, I understand completely the business side of things and everything, but someone who comes back from a drug sentence and performance-enhancing drugs and then all of a sudden gets to play every single match on center court, I think that's a questionable thing to do," number-five ranked Caroline Wozniacki told Ekstrabladet TV of Denmark after losing on an outside court Wednesday night.

"I think it doesn't set a good example."

Sharapova responded to Wozniacki, saying, "With regards to scheduling, as you know, I don't make the schedule," Sharapova said Friday night after winning her third-round match.

"I'm a pretty big competitor. If you put me out in the parking lot of Queens in New York City, I'm happy to play there. That's not what matters to me. All that matters to me is I'm in the fourth round. Yeah, I'm not sure where she is."

Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, chimed in stating that Sharapova lacked the stamina to make the semis and, she probably shouldn’t be in the main draw in the first place.

“When Maria enters a tournament, the best news possible for her is if Serena is not in the draw,’’ Mouratoglou told The Post. “She’s a better tennis player. She’s the best of all time. She hasn’t been dominating just Sharapova.”

Mouratoglou is providing commentary for Eurosport and ESPN.