After months away from the court, two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep made her much-anticipated return at the Miami Open! 🌴 But her comeback wasn't all sunshine and palm trees. Facing Spain's Paula Badosa, Halep fell in a three-set thriller: 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Earlier this month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced Halep's doping ban from four years to nine months. She had been provisionally suspended since September 2022 after testing positive for roxadustat at the U.S. Open, where she endured a surprising first-round exit.
Now, the 2018 French Open champion is hungry to reclaim her place at the top as she eyes the upcoming clay court Grand Slam in two months. 🎾🔥
\"It felt really good,\" Halep shared after the match. \"I had emotions, positive emotions. To see the crowd supporting me was so nice and gave me a lot of energy. The level of tennis was pretty good, unexpected I think, for most people.\"
She added with a smile, \"It is a special day.\"
Though the result wasn’t the fairy-tale comeback fans might have hoped for, Halep's return marks a new chapter. Get ready to see more of her fierce gameplay as she charges forward this season! 💪🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
