Romanian tennis star Simona Halep’s struggle with doping continues, as she has been handed a four-year ban. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found Halep guilty on two counts of ‘Intentional’ doping. While the news came as a shock, Serena Williams did not pass the opportunity to take a dig at her.
Williams took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to post a cryptic tweet and gave no additional context for it. However, the implication of her tweet is very clear.
Serena and Simona had locked horns in the Wimbledon final in 2019. The Romanian handed Williams an embarrassing defeat in straight sets. It was one of the four finals that Serena lost, trying to win her 24th Grand Slam title.
8 is a better number.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 12, 2023
Serena’s tweet implies that she should have won that final against Halep. It would have been her 8th title at the All England Club, but Halep defeated her 6-2, 6-2. Williams had won eight of their nine encounters until that point.
Since the news of Halep’s ban broke, Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian also threw shade at the Romanian. He shared a photo of himself wearing a D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) t-shirt. Williams also replied to his post on X.
Seriously not out of style.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 12, 2023
Simona has always denied doping intentionally. However, irregularities had been detected in her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), which sealed her fate. But Simona feels two out of the three members reviewing her case, changed their stance when they learned of her identity.
Halep has always maintained her innocence on this issue. She plans to contest this decision of the ITIA. Serena Williams may feel cheated, but there is no evidence to suggest that Halep had been doping back then.
Serena Williams criticized for her words
Fans were quick to realize the purpose of the tweet and criticized Williams. One fan even called her “Salty” for apparently holding on to a grudge all these years. Here are a few fan reactions to Serena’s tweet.
Salty
— Kevin Moore (@Kevrmoore) September 12, 2023
Nah after that performance the number should be 6 I’m subtracting one. https://t.co/BunTMfUP2l
— Earl in Accounting (@HumpA_55) September 12, 2023
When I thought she couldn’t go any lower..
— Anna Karenina (@missfreyja2) September 12, 2023
Serena Williams retired from tennis in 2022, in order to expand her family, and she recently welcomed her second child. The 23-time Grand Slam champion may feel cheated, but she cannot change the past.