Tennis world reacts to shocking news of Sharapova's failed drug test

On Sunday, it was revealed that Maria Sharapova would make a “major announcement” in Los Angeles the following day.

Speculation ran rampant. Was she retiring? Taking time off? Beginning a new business venture?

Everyone, it seems, was fooled when the five-time Grand Slam champion informed reporters that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open.

The positive result was for meldonium, which became a banned substance just this year. Sharapova claimed that she’s been taking the drug for 10 years to combat health-related issues.

Still, the 28-year-old expressed remorse.

“I’ve let my fans down, let my sport down,” Sharapova said. “…I don’t want to end my career this way. I really hope that I will be given another chance to play this game.”

The penalty for the Russian has not been announced, but it’s almost a certainty that she’ll miss an extended period of time.

“I am very saddened to hear this news about Maria,” WTA CEO Steve Simon said in a release. “Maria is a leader and I have always known her to be a woman of great integrity. Nevertheless, as Maria acknowledged, it is every player’s responsibility to know what they put in their body and to know if it is permissible.

“This matter is now in the hands of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program and its standard procedures. The WTA will support the decisions reached through this process.”

After the shocking announcement was made, the tennis world—and some notable celebrities and journalists—reacted on Twitter.