LONDON, May 3 (Reuters): Former champion Maria Sharapova's hopes of playing at this year's Wimbledon championships will hinge on a June 20 meeting of tournament organisers unless the Russian hits form in forthcoming events in Rome and Madrid. Sharapova, who returned last week after a 15-month ban for an anti-doping violation, could still climb high enough in the WTA rankings to earn a spot in the Wimbledon qualifying tournament at Roehampton. Failing that the 2004 champion would need a wildcard, either into the main draw or the qualifying event a week before the championship begins. "We have a long-standing tried and tested process (for awarding wildcards) in the week before qualifying and this year is no different," All England Club chairman Philip Brook said at a news conference on Wednesday. "First we will see if Maria applies for a wildcard and if so we will consider her case alongside everyone else's." Sharapova reached the semi-finals in Stuttgart last week as a wildcard entrant, playing her first tournament since her ban for taking the prohibited substance Meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. Her world ranking rose to 262. The cut-off date to enter Wimbledon's main draw is May 22, the day after the conclusion of the Rome tournament in which Sharapova has been handed another wildcard. A string of wins there and in Madrid the following week, where she also has a wildcard, could squeeze her into Wimbledon qualifying on merit. That would potentially spare the All England Club a tough decision, which already faces the absence of defending champion Serena Williams who is pregnant. While at pains to say any application by Sharapova for wildcard would be treated like any other, Brook hinted that reputation could influence the committee which includes himself, Wimbledon tournament referee Andrew Jarrett and former British number one Tim Henman. "We will also consider what might add interest to the tournament. If someone has a strong record at Wimbledon that would be taken into consideration."
