Murray, Pironkova, Bouchard given Roland-Garros wildcards

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray was the biggest name in the list of wildcards released by the French Tennis Federation on Monday for this year’s Roland-Garros, which takes place from September 27-October 11, having moved from May-June because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ranked 110 as he continues to make his way back from the hip surgery that saved his career in January 2019, Murray, the runner-up at Roland-Garros in 2016, will go straight into the main draw, alongside seven other wildcard recipients.

Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, who reached the quarter-finals in New York in her first tournament back after three years out and having her first child, was given a wildcard into the women’s event, having already shot up to No 156 in the rankings following her US Open run. The 33-year-old was a quarter-finalist in Paris in 2016.

Merci @rolandgarros pour cette merveilleuse opportunité. Je vous aime tous et j’ai hâte de vous voir! 💙🤍❤️ pic.twitter.com/0qcfz4KAxL

— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) September 14, 2020

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who reached the semi-finals in Paris in 2014, is rewarded for reaching last week’s final in Istanbul with a wildcard but former world No 1 Kim Clijsters is not playing in Paris, having decided to take a few weeks off as she continues her second comeback, at the age of 37.

I have decided to spend the next few weeks with my family. NYC showed how much progress I’ve made & also what I need to work on. Not sure where I’ll play next but will let you know soon. For now, back to training & school lunches ! 🎾 🍎 📚

— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) September 14, 2020

• Also read: Roland-Garros 2020: Limited fans, masks obligatory and fairer prize money.