Miami (USA) – Defeated by Spanish Paula Badosa in his first match since the 2022 US Open, Romanian Simona Halep is planning her clay calendar and hopes to be able to play as much as possible, after missing a year and a half due to the doping case. Currently unranked due to downtime, she will need invites to enter major tournaments
“To be honest, I was thinking about going back to clay to have some time to breathe and calm down. But the positive feeling was so great, and some people around me told me that I need to go to feel the energy again”, said the former number 1 about her return to the courts in Miami, in an invitation that came shortly after Halep win your appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“It was the right decision, the best decision to come to Miami, feel the energy, feel the love of the people and feel the freedom again”, highlighted the Romanian, who now has to plan what her clay season will be like. The clay tournaments begin the following week in Miami and their highlight is the Roland Garros competition.
The Romanian still does not have a defined calendar for the remainder of the season. “I don’t know what the plan will be, but I want to play as much as possible to get my rhythm back. I’m old. I’m not so young anymore and I have to manage my recovery very well. I don’t want to get hurt. Most people told me to worry about it because 18 months is a long time and I have to take it slow,” said Halep.
Without competing in a Grand Slam since the doping case at the US Open, the former leader of the ranking has doubts about her participation in Roland Garros, as she will need an invitation to compete in the traditional French event, where she was champion in 2018 and finalist in 2017 and 2014.
Wozniacki criticizes invitation to Halep and creates controversy
