The decision not to give Maria Sharapova a wild-card for the French Open has been followed by other wild-card controversies surrounding the tournament.
While French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli referred to "the high standards of the game" in denying Sharapova a wild card, the federation gave a qualifying wild card to French player Constant Lestienne, who received a seven-month suspension in 2016 for betting on tennis matches.
A year ago, his main-draw wild card was withdrawn by the federation because he was under investigation for betting.
"Constant has paid his debt," Giudicelli told *The New York Times*. "There is no reason, once again, to refuse him this wild card because he was part of the group, in terms of ranking, who were in contention."
Paul-Henri Mathieu, who plans to retire, had requested a wild card into the main draw of the French Open. The 116th-ranked 35-year-old was not given entry, but Julien Benneteau, who is the same age and ranked No. 103, was given entry.
