The US Open has so far been characterised by upsets on both sides of the draw. On the men's side, only four of the top ten remain while on the women's side, just five of the top ten still have a chance. This is all despite the tournament only being at the last 32 phase for the men and the last 16 for the women.
The fact that one of Querrey, Lorenzi, Anderson, Shapovalev, Carreño Busta, Pouille, Schwartzman and the less talented Zverev brother will make the men's final hasn't exactly led to the most enrapturing tournament so far.
One story-line that has continued to garner attention, however, is the continuing return to prominence of Maria Sharapova.
Not only has she advanced to the last 16, but she has been given pride of place in the competition's scheduling having played all of her matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of the biggest audience possible.
This has understandably irked the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, who voiced her grievances about a proven drugs cheat still being given top billing by the competition's organisers after her defeat.
I think putting out a schedule where the fifth seed is playing on Court 5, fifth match on after 11 pm. – I think that’s unacceptable.
When you look on Centre Court, I understand completely the business side of things, but someone who comes back from a drugs sentence – performance enhancing drugs – and all of a sudden gets to play every single match on Centre Court, I think that’s a questionable thing to do.
I think it doesn’t set a good example and I think someone who has fought their way back from injury and is five in the world deserves to play on a bigger court than Court 5.
Sharapova today responded by downplaying the importance of which court she plays on while also having a bit of a dig at Wozniacki who has already been knocked out.
I don’t make the schedule. I’m a pretty big competitor. If you put me out in the parking lot of Queens in New York City, I’m happy to play there.
That’s not what matters to me. All that matters to me is I’m in the fourth round. I’m not sure where she is.
It's not the first time Wozniacki has expressed her unhappiness with how Sharapova has seemingly been welcomed back in to the tennis world with open arms after a 15 month ban for testing positive for meldonium.
