Sharapova will need French Open wildcard; can still make Wimbledon cut

After her semifinal showing in Stuttgart, her first tournament since serving a 15-month doping suspension, Maria Sharapova will now definitely require a wildcard from the French Tennis Federation to play the French Open.

The Russian would have lifted her ranking into the No. 180-175 range if she had reached the final of Stuttgart; it would have earned Sharapova 305 ranking points. But in losing to Kristina Mladenovic, Sharapova earned just 185 points and remained outside the Top 250 in the WTA rankings. Entries for French Open qualifying are decided on the basis of this week's rankings, with players in the Top 200 usually receiving entry.

Sharapova, currently ranked No. 262, was just a few games from victory in the second set against Mladenovic, but still pronounced herself happy with her first week back.

"I'm not angry," Sharapova said of the three-set encounter. "If at the start of the week I'd said I'd be in this position, I'd be pretty happy with that."

Sharapova will receive wild cards into Madrid and Rome, which will determine her qualifying status for Wimbledon. The 30-year-old would receive 390 points for reaching the semifinals of Madrid or 350 points for reaching the semifinals of Rome, a combination that would put her around the No. 104-112 range in the rankings. That could also potentially, but not definitely, allow her to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon. The Top 104 receive direct entry into the main draw of a Grand Slam, though the figure can be slightly higher or lower depending on withdrawals and protected-entry rankings.

Reaching a final at either event would likely get Sharapova into the main draw of the grass-court major. If she plays both events and wins a few rounds at Madrid or Rome, she would rank around the Top 200, which could get her into Wimbledon qualifying.

But Sharapova insists she is not concentrating just on getting into the majors.

"I am treating Madrid and Rome just as importantly as the Grand Slams at this point," she said. "They are match play and that is what I need."