Simona Halep didn’t expect her return from the doping ban to be smooth-sailing, as 18 months was a long period of inactivity, especially at her age, but it seems that the comeback is way more rocky than the 32-year-old can handle. The last blow to the Romanian is the fact that she has not been given a wildcard for the French Open, the tournament she won in 2018. Amid this disappointment, the word is out that Halep ended her cooperation with coach Carlos Martinez after just seven weeks and is even considering calling it quits on her tennis career altogether.
Halep played just one full match since comeback
After a draining battle to return to competition following a positive test for the banned substance roxadustat at the 2022 US Open, Halep made her much-anticipated return at the 2024 Miami Open. Despite being prepared for a tough road back from her doping ban, the reintegration into the tour has posed significant obstacles.
Since her return, the Romanian has completed just one full match, a defeat to Paula Badosa in the first round of Miami. Subsequently, she withdrew from clay-court tournaments in Oeiras and Madrid. Halep’s latest appearance, at the WTA 125 Tropheé Clarins in Paris, ended prematurely due to a knee injury.
