Simona Halep has withdrawn from the upcoming Madrid Open to focus on improving her fitness. The decision comes as she aims to ensure she is physically prepared to compete at the highest level after being absent from the sport for over 18 months.
The former Wimbledon and French Open champion recently had her four-year doping ban reduced to nine months in March. She made her comeback as a wild card entry at the Miami Open, where she was defeated in the first round by Paula Badosa.
In a statement, Halep expressed that her body requires additional time to reach optimal readiness, leading her to opt out of the Madrid tournament. She acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, emphasizing the importance of not rushing her return to competitive play. Halep extended her gratitude to the Mutua Madrid Open for offering her a wildcard entry and to her fans for their support.
Halep, a former world No. 1, was suspended in October 2022 following a positive test for roxadustat, a banned substance that enhances red blood cell production. Additional charges were brought against her due to anomalies in her athlete biological passport. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Halep's ban was reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, attributing the positive test to a contaminated supplement.
Since her suspension, Halep's ranking has plummeted to No. 1,146. The WTA is currently reviewing its regulations, considering the implementation of 'special rankings' for players who have been cleared of doping violations or had their bans shortened. This potential change could allow such players to return to the tour under adjusted ranking conditions.
