© Getty Photographs Sport – Clive Brunskill
Simona Halep did not actually obtain a heat welcome again message from Caroline Wozniacki because the Dane did not appear to be too proud of the Romanian receiving a Miami wildcard in her first event since her doping ban.
After getting a four-year doping ban on the allegations of utilizing Roxadustat and irregularities in her athlete organic passport, Simona took her case to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and earlier this month noticed her doping ban diminished to simply 9 months.
Since Halep had been out of motion for a yr and a half, that verdict meant she was free to return to tennis instantly and a WTA 1000 event in Miami made positive she wouldn’t have to attend for too lengthy and gave her a primary draw wildcard into the event that began this week.
And on Tuesday, two-time Grand Slam champion Halep kicked off her comeback. After a robust begin, Halep failed to keep up the identical stage for your complete match as former world No. 2 Paula Badosa earned a 1-6 6-4 6-3 comeback win.
In Miami, Halep acquired very robust assist and plenty of gamers sounded pleased in regards to the 32-year-old being again to motion. However Wozniacki – who defeated Halep within the 2018 Australian Open last for her first and lone Grand Slam title – did not agree that the Romanian or another participant coming back from a doping ban ought to be receiving wildcards.
Wozniacki on Halep coming back from a doping ban in Miami with a wildcard
After ousting Clara Burel 6-1 6-4, Wozniacki was requested on to share her ideas on Halep’s Miami comeback.
“Properly, to start with, I’ve at all times preferred Simona. We have at all times had an excellent relationship,” Wozniacki mentioned.
“I have been very outspoken previously how I really feel about doping and all of that. I believe my view on doping is identical. I’ve at all times needed a clear sport, honest for everyone. I believe it is undoubtedly nonetheless my opinion.
“Once more, this isn’t instantly at Simona, but when somebody purposely cheats, if somebody has examined optimistic for doping… I perceive why a event needs a giant star within the event, but it surely’s my private perception, and it isn’t a knock on anybody, but it surely’s my private perception that I do not assume individuals ought to be awarded wild playing cards afterwards.
“If you wish to come again, and it has been a mistake, I perceive, it is best to work your manner up from the underside. That is my private opinion upon issues.”
Wozniacki: Halep solely acquired her suspension diminished…
Throughout and all through your complete doping course of, Halep maintained her innocence and insisted that banned substance Roxadustat solely entered her physique by way of a contaminated complement and that she could not be blamed there.
When asserting the choice within the Halep case, the CAS mentioned that the previous world No. 1 “bore some stage of fault or negligence for her violations” however that she “bore no vital fault or negligence.” In the case of the athlete organic passport cost, the Romanian was cleared there.
However Wozniacki argues that the CAS lowering Halep’s suspension to 9 months nonetheless meant that she did one thing mistaken.
“Simona’s state of affairs has clearly dragged on for a very long time. She acquired her suspension diminished. It wasn’t a clearance, it was a diminished sentence. She’s now been off of the sport for some time and she or he’s coming again,” Wozniacki added.
“Once more, I simply hope for a clear sport. That is all I need. I need to have good position fashions for the younger era. It is a sport that has some huge cash in it, quite a lot of competitiveness, quite a lot of rivals. I need a honest struggle.
“I’ve at all times been a really trustworthy athlete and at all times checked out the whole lot that I’ve taken. Even taking Tylenol is one thing I double and triple-check thrice. All I need is for my youngsters to search for and say, You recognize what, I need to play tennis and I need to play honest.
“I nonetheless acquired an opportunity. I need to be on the market competing honest and sq. with everybody else. That is my view on issues, how I am elevating my youngsters as nicely.”
For Halep, the choice the CAS made was the game-changer for her as if her preliminary four-year doping ban remained, she would have been allowed to return to tennis solely in 2026 October. By then, Halep would have been 35 and it might have been laborious to think about her returning to tennis at that age after being out of motion for 4 years.
In the meantime, the clay season begins in April and Halep will possible get extra primary draw wildcards within the upcoming interval.
