Former world number one Simona Halep has been given a wildcard opportunity to compete in the Australian Open qualifying competition.
The athlete, a two-time Grand Slam champion, was involved in a high-profile doping case and was initially suspended for four years. However, the CAS eventually lowered the suspension to nine months.
She then made her comeback into competitive tennis in March, but she did not play much in the 2024 season. In her most recent match, she suffered a first-round defeat at the WTA 250 tournament in Hong Kong last October.
The athlete said: “The thought of returning to Australia after three years is exciting and I’m very grateful to the tournament for this opportunity. I have been working hard to get ready for the 2025 season.”
She added: “The Australian Open has provided me with some of the best moments in my career, so I can’t wait to be back in Melbourne and playing in front of the Aussie fans.”
Halep’s doping history
Halep tested positive for a prohibited drug called Roxadustat a few months after losing in the first round of the US Open. She was then banned from playing for four years.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accused her of a second doping offence due to anomalies in her Athlete Biological Passport. In September 2023, she was given a four-year penalty retroactive to the first offence.
After a legal struggle in which Halep has repeatedly denied doping, CAS decided to shorten her term to nine months. She will be competing in her first Grand Slam event after her suspension at the Australian Open.
Source: Eurosport