Simona Halep to skip Australian Open and delay start of season due to injury
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Simona Halep's career was stalled by a four-year doping ban that was reduced on appeal in March.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BUCHAREST – Simona Halep will delay her start to the 2025 season and skip the Australian Open due to pain in her knee and shoulder, the former world No. 1 confirmed on Dec 26.
Halep, whose career stalled due to a doping ban that was reduced on appeal earlier in 2024, had received a wildcard for the Australian Open qualifying tournament last week.
The Romanian had finished runner-up at the Melbourne Grand Slam in 2018.
The 33-year-old had also been scheduled to play at a tune-up tournament in Auckland, but would now take time off to recover from her issues.
Halep last played at the World Tennis League exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week.
“After playing in Abu Dhabi, unfortunately I felt pain in my knee and shoulder once again. After discussing with my team at length, we agreed it is sensible to delay the start of my season,” she wrote on Instagram.
“It’s not what I wanted but I would like to thank the tournament organisers in Auckland and Australia for the wild cards and I’m sorry I won’t be able to take them this time.”
Halep also said that she intends to return at her home event in Cluj in early February.
“I can’t wait to play in front of the amazing Romanian fans,” she added.
The two-time Grand Slam champion was provisionally suspended in October 2022
She was later banned for four years, a period which was cut to nine months in March 2024 following an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The 2019 Wimbledon champion has denied knowingly taking roxadustat, blaming contaminated supplements for her positive test.
In other tennis news, Alexander Zverev begins his 2025 season this week with the goal of becoming world No. 1, but he said on Dec 27 staying fit and healthy was equally important.
Currently ranked No. 2, he starts his campaign on Dec 29 when United Cup holders Germany face Brazil in a group match at the mixed-teams tournament in the lead up to the Australian Open.
Zverev, who has yet to win a Slam, was thankful to be back after a serious ankle ligament tear in the 2022 French Open semi-finals against Rafael Nadal put his career in doubt.
“I was one match away from world No. 1 before the injury,” he said. “But I’m again competing for big events. I feared that I might not be able to do that again. I want to stay healthy and fit, that is the main goal.” REUTERS, AFP
Halep intends to return at her home event in Cluj, in early February.
SCREENSHOT: INSTAGRAM/SIMONA HALEP
