SERENA WILLIAMS IS THE ONLY ONE STANDING BY SHARAPOVA

The tennis world is weighing in on Maria Sharapova.

The Russian held a press conference Monday at which she admitted she tested positive for Meldonium, a drug recently banned by WADA, at the Australian Open and expects to face a significant ban from the WTA.

Serena Williams somewhat surprisingly showed support for Sharapova, despite the pair having a rocky relationship.

“I think like everyone else said most people were surprised and shocked by Maria,” said Williams, who exchanged boyfriend barbs with Sharapova in 2012, while promoting her Madison Square Garden exhibition against Caroline Wozniacki. 

“Most people were happy that she was upfront and very honest and showed a lot of courage to admit to what she had done and what she had neglected to look at in terms of the list at the end of the year … It’s just taking the responsibility, which she was willing to do and ready to. I hope for the best for everyone in that situation.”

Wozniacki, speaking at the same press conference, did not show the same sympathy.

“Any time we take medication, we double and triple check because sometimes even things like cough drops and nasal sprays can be on the list,” Wozniacki said. “As athletes, we always make sure to really make sure there’s nothing in it that could put us in a bad situation.”

Former Grand Slam champ Jennifer Capriati had perhaps the harshest criticism of Sharapova in since-deleted Tweets on Monday.

Saying she was “extremely angry and disappointed” in Sharapova, Capriati added: “I didn’t have the high priced team of [doctors] that found a way for me to cheat and get around the system and wait for science to catch up.’’

She also said: “I had to lose my career and never opted to cheat no matter what. I had to throw in the towel and suffer… In my opinion of its all true every title should be stripped.”

Sharapova’s excuse that she has taken the medicine for a decade because of health issues, including early signs of diabetes and an irregular heartbeat, did little to stem the controversy — since the company that makes the drug said it isn’t meant to be taken on a long-term basis.

Nike was one of three sponsors that cut ties with Sharapova as she awaits her official punishment, which is anticipated to be a two- to four-year ban. [yahoo sports]