Maria Sharapova showed “a lot of courage” for accepting responsibility for her failed drugs test, says world’s number one, Serena Williams.
Five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova, 28, revealed on Monday that she tested positive for meldonium in January.
“Most people were surprised and shocked, but happy that she was upfront and very honest,” said Williams, 34.
Sharapova’s ex-coach Nick Bollettieri said the Russian’s test was a “game-changer for life, not just for tennis”.
The 84-year-old American told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he was shocked former world number one Sharapova tested positive because “she has always been above board in everything”.
He added: “Everybody must accept responsibilities for everything they do in life.”
Meldonium, which Sharapova said she has taken since 2006 for health reasons, became a banned substance on 1 January 2016.
She tested positive after losing to Williams in the Australian Open quarter-finals on 26 January.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said Sharapova will be provisionally suspended from 12 March. She faces up to a four-year ban.
Williams said: “It’s just taking responsibility, which she admitted she was ready to do.”
Bollettieri said he believed former world number one Sharapova had made a “very honest mistake”.
“She said she took these for many, many years and then didn’t read the memorandum that came out,” he said.
“I don’t think that Maria Sharapova would continue doing something, especially being in the limelight, if there was something she knew about.”
