Sharapova Denied Entry Into French Open

By ESPN

Two-time champion Maria Sharapova has missed out on a wild-card entry for the French Open because of her doping ban.

Announcing the decision on a live Facebook broadcast Tuesday, French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said he told Sharapova in person that it was not possible.

"I decided not to give Maria Sharapova a wild card. I'm very sorry for Maria, very sorry for her fans. They might be disappointed. She might be very disappointed," Giudicelli said. "But it's my responsibility, it's my mission to protect the game and protect the high standards of the game."

Sharapova returned to tennis last month after a 15-month ban for doping.

"This suspension is over, and she can take her path toward new success," Giudicelli said. "But while there can be a wild card for return from injury, there can't be a wild card for return from doping."

Sharapova, who has titles at all four majors, won at Roland Garros in 2012 and 2014. At 6-1 odds, she had been the second-favorite at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook -- behind Simona Halep (9-2) -- to win this year's French Open, which begins May 28.

"Must be tough for her, but it's the way it is," Novak Djokovic said at the Italian Open, where Sharapova exited with an apparent thigh injury Tuesday. "In some tournaments she's going to get that help in wild card and invitation; some not. Unfortunately, it's Grand Slam, which is for sure for her a big one."

Thanks to wild cards at her first two tournaments, she got her world ranking to outside the top 200 this week. But that wasn't good enough to make the cut even for the qualifying field at Roland Garros, so she will miss the tournament for a second straight year.

Sharapova did not comment on Tuesday's announcement.