Australian Open defends decision to invite Maria Sharapova to draw ceremony after 15-month suspension

Controversy continued to follow Maria Sharapova as tournament officials defended their decision to invite the Russian to be one of their two player guests at Thursday’s Australian Open draw ceremony.

Sharapova missed the tournament last year because she was serving a 15-month suspension, having failed a drugs test here two years ago.

Roger Federer, last year’s champion, was one of the guests, but with Serena Williams not here to defend her title, Sharapova, the 2008 champion, was invited to take the stage and formally hand over the women’s trophy.

Victoria Azarenka, another former champion, is also absent – because of a custody battle over her child – which left Angelique Kerber, who is playing in Sydney this week, as the only other former women’s singles champion playing in the tournament.

Craig Tiley, the tournament director, defended the decision to invite Sharapova. “In fairness to Maria, the adjudication has occurred on that,” he said when asked about her drugs suspension and whether her presence at the ceremony was appropriate. “Maria is an Australian Open champion. She deserved the opportunity.”