Maria Sharapova is back in tennis after serving a 15-month ban for testing positive for a banned substance, and not everyone is happy about it. One of those who believes the tennis legend got off way too easy is Genie Bouchard, who used to idolize the Russian superstar.
Speaking with TRT World, Bouchard unloaded on Sharapova, calling her a cheater and saying she shouldn’t be allowed to come back.
Genie on Sharapova!
Full interview: https://t.co/WUdE4ilKnB pic.twitter.com/Lf38DKOMmS— Genie Bouchard News (@genie_news) April 26, 2017
“She’s a cheater and so to me … I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” Bouchard said. “It’s so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true. So, I think from the WTA it sends the wrong message to young kids — cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms.”
Bouchard also said her former idol is “definitely not someone I can say I look up to anymore because that’s definitely ruined it for me a little bit.”
Like it or not, Sharapova is back. She won her first match upon her return, though not without a bit of rust, beating Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round of the Porsche Grand Prix.