Andy Murray believes Maria Sharapova could be handed a wildcard for Wimbledon if the Russian does not qualify through ranking.
Sharapova, who won at Wimbledon in 2004 as a 17-year-old, is back on the WTA Tour after a 15-month ban for doping and made the semi-finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart in her first event last week, giving herself a ranking of 262 after collecting 185 points.
The 30-year-old now requires deep runs in her next two tournaments in Madrid and Rome to earn enough points before the Wimbledon qualification deadline.
Murray, who said in March players who have served doping suspensions should not be given tournament wildcards, expects the All England Club to offer Sharapova a lifeline whether or not she makes the cut.
"There might not even be a decision to be made because she might be in the main draw after Madrid or Rome," Murray said at the launch of next month's Queen's tournament on Tuesday.
"I think there's a good chance Wimbledon would give her one to get into qualifiers. I'm not sure what they will do but I'm sure they are hoping they don't have to make the decision.
"There's a good chance that she __can get in by right, which I'm sure is what she's hoping for and that's what Wimbledon would be hoping for."
Early exits from the Australian Open and Indian Wells, coupled with injury and illness, has meant Murray has had his own concerns to contend with after a stellar finish to last year.
The three-time grand slam winner reached the semi-finals at the Barcelona Open last week, but is now entering a period of the season where he has a high number of points to defend in order to maintain his status.
Murray is adamant the pressure of being No 1 has not contributed to his troubled start to 2017.
"I think that was more like at the end of last year," he said. "All that stuff felt a bit different to me. I'm now getting asked about it every week.
"It's almost like trying to find a reason for why this year hasn't been as good as the end of last year but it did not have anything to do with being world number one, in my opinion.
"I haven't felt different when I go on to the court, I didn't feel different when I was preparing for the Australian Open as I did in previous years. I really don't think it has been anything to do with that.
"Definitely at the end of last year, there was a lot going on. But this year and especially the last few months, I haven't felt any different or any extra pressure when I go on the court.
"Maybe now when you lose as number one, it's a bigger story. It feels like each time you lose, it's treated like more of a surprise.
"But I have lost early in Monte Carlo before, I've lost early in Indian Wells before, I've started clay-court seasons badly, I've had difficult runs and I also wasn't number one, so I really don't think it's to do with that.
"It's been a tricky year so far, and I'm hoping now that I'm through the worst of it and I __can finish strong."
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