By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, March 19, 202
Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep share the uncommon expertise of reaching world No. 1.
The pair half dramatically on their wild card views.
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Within the aftermath of her 6-4, 6-1 win over Clara Burel in Miami in the present day, Wozniacki was requested her response to Halep’s Miami Open comeback from a doping suspension.
Halep efficiently appealed her four-year doping ban to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport, profitable a lowered sentence of 4 months that enabled her to return to tennis in Miami.
Wozniacki says she opposes awarding wild playing cards to gamers who’ve served doping suspensions and believes Halep ought to “work your means up from the underside.”
“Effectively, initially, I’ve all the time favored Simona. We have all the time had a superb relationship,” Wozniacki advised the media in Miami. “I believe my view on doping is similar. I’ve all the time needed a clear sport, truthful for everyone. I believe it is positively nonetheless my opinion.
“Once more, this isn’t straight at Simona, but when somebody purposely cheats, if somebody has examined optimistic for doping… I perceive why a event desires an enormous star within the event, nevertheless it’s my private perception, and it is not a knock on anybody, nevertheless it’s my private perception that I do not suppose individuals must be awarded wild playing cards afterwards.”
The 32-year-old Halep adopted Wozniacki on Grandstand Court docket and received the primary set earlier than bowing to former No. 2 Paula Badosa 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Knowledgeable of Wozniacki’s feedback, Halep replied: “I am not a cheater” including “just one particular person being unfavorable about me will not be that essential.”
“However why? I did not do something incorrect,” Halep stated when advised of Wozniacki’s feedback. “I did not cheat. I did not dope. So it is higher if we learn the choice from CAS that it was a contaminated complement, it wasn’t doping.
“I by no means had one thing to do with doping. I by no means doped, so I am not a cheater. Thanks to the event for giving me the wild card and have the likelihood to play in such an enormous event. It was nice to be again. Just one particular person being unfavorable about me will not be that essential as a result of I’ve tons of of those who giving me love, so I’ll take that.”
The 2-time Grand Slam champion Halep examined optimistic for the banned drug Roxadustat on the 2022 US Open. Roxadustat is legitimately used for the remedy of anaemia however is on the WADA Prohibited Substance listing as a blood doping agent, which will increase hemoglobin and the manufacturing of purple blood cells. It has been utilized by center distance and long-distance runners previously.
Final month, Halep received her doping attraction because the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport lowered her suspension from 4 years to 9 months clearing the trail for her return to the professional circuit this week in Miami.
Halep asserts she has by no means knowingly doped and attributes her optimistic take a look at to a contaminated complement. Halep says three “world-renowned consultants” have concluded her optimistic take a look at for Roxadustat was a results of a contaminated complement. Final month, Halep filed a lawsuit seeking $10 million in damages from the Canadian company she claims produced the contaminated supplement that caused her to fail the drug test and derailed her profession.
Nevertheless, the Quantum Vitamin founder advised Canadian publication The Globe and Mail final October that the complement was not the reason for the Romanian’s optimistic take a look at. He says Halep is attempting to scapegoat his firm as “the autumn man” for her doping suspension.
Former Australian Open champion Wozniacki, who spoke out towards tournaments awarding wild playing cards to Maria Sharapova when she returned from her doping suspension for the banned substance meldonium, stated her place will not be private.
Wozniacki says “all I need is a good battle.”
“If you wish to come again, and it has been a mistake, I perceive, you need to work your means up from the underside. That is my private opinion upon issues,” Wozniacki stated. “Simona’s scenario has clearly dragged on for a very long time. She received her suspension lowered. It wasn’t a clearance, it was a lowered sentence. She’s now been off of the sport for some time and she or he’s coming again.
“Once more, I simply hope for a clear sport. That is all I need. I wish to have good position fashions for the younger technology. It is a sport that has some huge cash in it, lots of competitiveness, lots of rivals. I desire a truthful battle. I’ve all the time been a really trustworthy athlete and all the time checked out the whole lot that I’ve taken.”
Reflecting on her lowest level of her suspension, Halep stated she all the time believed the reality would prevail and she or he would play once more.
“My mother and father all the time taught [me] that good all the time prevails,” Halep stated. “I belief it 100% from the primary day till the final day that the reality will come out and the choice might be taken in a good means.
“I knew I am clear. I knew I did not do something incorrect. I believed that it is not possible to remain 4 years for one thing that does not exist.”
Photograph credit score: Matthew Calvis
