Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep made her much-anticipated return to competitive tennis at the Miami Open on Tuesday, facing off against Spain’s Paula Badosa. Despite a strong start, Halep fell short, losing 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a closely contested match.
Halep’s return comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced her doping ban from four years to nine months earlier this month. The Romanian star was provisionally suspended in September 2022 after testing positive for roxadustat at the U.S. Open, where she suffered a first-round exit.
“It felt really good,” Halep said after the match. “I had emotions, positive emotions to see the crowd supporting me was so nice and gave me a lot of energy and the level of tennis was pretty good, unexpected I think, for most of the people. It is a special day.”
As the 2018 French Open champion sets her sights on the upcoming clay court season, she’s focused on regaining her form in time for Roland Garros in two months. Her performance against Badosa showed glimpses of her former brilliance, signaling a promising path ahead.
Badosa, currently ranked No. 27 in the world, praised Halep’s effort. “Playing against Simona is always challenging,” she said. “She’s a great champion, and I’m sure she’ll be back to her best soon.”
Halep’s return adds excitement to the women’s tour as fans and competitors alike watch to see how quickly she can reclaim her place among the elite.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
