Nadal, Bencic among stars reacting to Sharapova's failed drug test
— -- INDIAN WELLS, California -- The first major stop since the Australian Open began Wednesday at Indian Wells, but the bulk of questions directed at the top stars was not the tennis but the news of Maria Sharapova testing positive for the recently banned drug meldonium.
Here's what the players had to say at round-table news conferences:
Rafael Nadal: "It's terrible news for the world of sport, in general, and for our sport. I think it's terrible, because the sport must be clean and must look clean. The good news about this is that we have a good anti-doping program, [and] that the players who are not doing the right thing are going on a trial.
"I have no temptation in doing something wrong. I believe in the sport and the value of the sport. The sport is an example for the society; it's an example for the kids. If I am doing something against that, then I am lying to myself, lying to my opponents. That would be something really bad for me. I have no temptation of doing a negative thing. I am a fair player, and I love the sport as a player, as a competitor and as a follower. When something negative happens in the world of sport, I am sad because the sport is an example for the society and for the kids, in general.
"I am 100 percent confident with my team, and at the same time, I know all the things I am taking. It is difficult to imagine that something like this can happen, but everyone can make mistakes. I want to believe that for sure it was a mistake for Maria, that she didn't want to do it, but it is a result of negligence. But the rules are like this, and it's fair, and now she must pay for it."
Kei Nishikori: "I was surprised and very sad to hear that she was taking something that she shouldn't take. It's very sad for tennis, even men's tennis. I don't know many details, so I can't say much, but maybe she has to take care a little more with her team."
Belinda Bencic: "I opened that email [from WADA] at the end of December. We all got an email. ... I look at the list, especially when I'm feeling a little bit sickly, and check and look what is inside there and see if it's not forbidden."
Angelique Kerber: "It's a combination of [me and the team]. At the end, I'm checking everything twice, or three times, to see if it's really on the list, because every player has a responsibility to yourself."
Tomas Berdych: "If you are not taking anything, then you don't have to look at the list, right? So if I'm supposed to take any medicine, whatever it is, and it's new and that I haven't taken in the past, the No. 1 thing I'm going to do is check it 10 times, all the different sources, doctors, this, that, everywhere I can, before I start using. And then I will find out what's new with WADA and the list."
Richard Gasquet: "It was a very difficult [to come back from a two-month preliminary suspension for cocaine use in 2009 before being cleared]. Very difficult. Because I couldn't think that I would have something like that in my life. I had more chance to win four Grand Slams in a row. I know it was very difficult to come back from that because you fight a lot. In France, there were a lot of people talking about it, and all the time, you see your name on TV. It took one year for me to take that off my mind."
Garbine Muguruza: "The good thing is she has acknowledged what happened, and she's facing it. I guess that's a good thing she is doing, and we'll see how it goes."
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