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Maria Sharapova Blasts Organizers For Preferential Treatment

Published 01/08/2020, 11:31 AM EST

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A few ties from the ATP Cup were held in the city of Brisbane, Queensland. Simultaneously the WTA’s event Brisbane International 2020 was taking place in the same tennis center. The Russian champion Maria Sharapova slammed the tournament organizers for prioritizing ATP matches over the WTA ones.

“It feels like a little bit of a second-hand event” – Maria Sharapova 

“You definitely recognize it and notice it,” Sharapova said. “It feels like a little bit of a second-hand event.”  The comfortable time slots and the center court were occupied by the ATP men. The women’s matches were scheduled early, and they are held on the outside courts of the Queensland Tennis Center.

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World Number one Ashleigh Barty and the defending champion Karolina Pliskova played on the outer courts as the tournament favored the ATP men. “It’s definitely a bit of a strange strategic move. I’m not sure (but) I heard that because the way that the court is constructed, that it’s not regulation for us to be playing on center court with the benches on the side,” she added.

via Imago

Earlier, the American tennis player Sloane Stephens voiced out on the same subject.

The event organizers are engaged in earning profits. ATP fills more seats than WTA. It attracts more viewership, eventually, the organizers would prefer scheduling men’s matches on the pivotal courts.

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“I don’t know what else it might be that’s preventing (us playing there), because I think there’s a lot of girls that are deserving of that center court spot in this draw. Everyone should have a conversation about it, that’s just my outside view,” Sharapova mentioned.

“We just weren’t in the conversation to even be considered. It was what the ATP wanted they got what they wanted, girls to the side, that’s kind of how it always is,” she concluded.

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Wildcard for Australian Open 2020

World Number 147 Maria Sharapova lost to Jennifer Bardy in the opening round of the Brisbane tournament. The Russian has been awarded a wildcard to the main draw of Australian Open 2020.

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Mahalakshmi Murali

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Mahalakshmi Murali joined EssentiallySports in 2018 as a tennis author and has gone on to pen more than 1800 engaging articles, probing into various aspects of the sport and its illustrious players. With her expertise on the sport, Mahalakshmi has interviewed stalwarts from the sport such as Serena WIlliams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou and Kevin Anderson’s physio, Carlos Costa. Equipped with her vast experience and a keen understanding of the sport, Mahalakshmi now co-heads the tennis department.
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