The 2023 WTA season saw the entry of new stars. There were three first-time Grand Slam winners this season. Meanwhile, the senior players will look to change the current trend next season. A few former Grand Slam winners are set to miss the next season. Simona Halep has been away from the courts for a year due to her doping ban. She had tested positive for Roxadustat during the 2022 US Open.
Halep is serving a four-year ban, ending in October 2026. As she is now serving the ban, Halep posted a picture on Instagram. She was in Paris. The caption said, “Ready to come back from where everything started, Roland Garros juniors 2008, Merci beaucoup Paris.” The post was Halep remembering her time during her junior days.
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The 32-year-old referred to her only junior grand slam title at the 2008 French Open. Halep dropped a single set while lifting the trophy in Paris. She defeated fellow Romanian Elena Bogdan in the final. Halep had also won her first grand slam title at the French Open 10 years later on the WTA tour. Her fans are now eagerly waiting for her return to the sport.
Simona Halep shifting to Dubai raises concerns regarding her return to tour
Halep is presently awaiting a verdict on her appeal from CAS. She hopes that her doping ban will be reduced as Halep will be 35 years old in 2026. While waiting for the decision from CAS, Halep reportedly shifted to UAE and sold her Snagov villa for $4.5 million. The former world No. 1 has revealed the reason behind the move. Halep is still training to stay fit and ready once she returns to the court.
The two-time grand slam champion shifting to the UAE was raised as a concern by Mirca Badea on his show Antena 3. Badea explained plenty of reasons for Halep to shift to the UAE. He indicated that she had already been there. Badea also questioned the timing of the decision, as she could have made the move when she was on the professional tour.
The Romanian player has been subjected to criticism since her doping ban was enforced. Halep has also found supporters on the WTA tour. Her fans will be wondering about the motive behind her shifting to the UAE. Hopefully, it will be a part of her training regime, and she might find better opportunities than Romania. Halep can confirm her return to the courts in a few more months.