Only a few days ago, two-time champion Maria Sharapova was denied a Wild Card into this year\u2019s Roland Garros. The president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT, short for F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Fran\u00e7aise de Tennis) commented on the decision stating \u201cthere can be a Wild Card for return from injuries then there cannot be a wild card for return from doping,\u201d which as a statement alone seems like solid justification for not even granting her a qualifying wildcard.<\/p>\n
The issue is when you look at someone like Paul-Henri Mathieu, who has suffered many injuries throughout his career. The former World #12 playing in his last year on tour was denied a Wild Card at the event despite pushing nine-time champion Rafael Nadal 11 years ago in a thrilling match as well as beating big serving American John Isner 18-16 in the final set five years ago in the second-longest ever match at Roland Garros. On his Facebook page he accepted not receiving one but disagreed with the decision and rightly so; anyone who\u2019s watched tennis over the years would surely feel the same.<\/p>\n
But despite those Wild Card decisions being made, there\u2019s one in particular which makes the decisions of the organizers look like they\u2019re hypocrites and have no idea what they\u2019re doing, and that\u2019s a qualifying wildcard to Constant Lestienne. Never heard of him? Well you\u2019re in the majority–but get ready for what you\u2019re about to read.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start off with the not so bad, and that\u2019s his typical “tanking” efforts on court. Over his career he\u2019s been known to throw in numerous underarm serves. Sure there\u2019s no rule against it, but when you\u2019re clearly doing it as a way of not bothering on court just counting down the clock before you lose, it\u2019s another thing. Players like World #40 Bernard Tomic have been called out on their tanking efforts before as it\u2019s against the rules, and here we are with the FFT granting someone who seemingly doesn\u2019t care about tennis a chance to play in the French Open.<\/p>\n
\nThe clown Lestienne serving underarm for the 100th times in his career pic.twitter.com\/bcbjKYu6nq<\/a><\/p>\n
— Stefano Berlincioni (@Carretero77) April 4, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n