Simona Halep has hit back at Caroline Wozniacki after the Dane said she should not have been given a wildcard for the Miami Open. Halep quickly returned to the highest level after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) reduced her doping ban from four years to nine months two weeks ago.
The two-time former Grand Slam champion tested positive for the blood-raising drug Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open and was given the long suspension last September. However, Cas accepted Halep’s explanation that she had unknowingly ingested the substance in a contaminated supplement, and the ruling came 17 months after she was first provisionally suspended.
There was a lot of support for the Romanian, who was defeated by Paula Badosa in her first match in Florida on Tuesday, but Wozniacki thought differently after a 6-1, 6-4 win over Clara Burel. “I’ve always liked Simona,” said Wozniacki, also a former world number 1. “We have always had a good relationship.
“If someone has tested positive for doping, I understand why a tournament wants a big star in the tournament, but it is my belief, and it is not a blow to anyone, that I believe that people should not be given wildcards afterwards. If you want to come back, and it was a mistake, I understand that you have to work from the bottom up.
“Simona’s situation has been dragging on for quite some time. She got her suspension reduced. It wasn’t consent, it was a reduced sentence. I just hope for a clean sport. That’s all I want. I want to have good role models for the young generation. It’s a sport that has a lot of money in it, a lot of competitiveness, a lot of competitors. I want a fair fight.”
Halep was less than impressed with Wozniacki’s comments and replied, “Why did she say that?” I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t cheat. I didn’t baptize. Thank you to the tournament for giving us the wild card and the opportunity to play in such a big tournament. It was great to be back.
“Just one person being negative about me is not that important because I have hundreds of people who give me love, so I will accept that.”
Halep looked like she had never been away as she raced to the first set in 38 minutes but Badosa, returning from long-term injury problems, dug in to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Halep said: “I missed this. I had emotions, but positive emotions; the crowd that supported me was so nice. The level of tennis was quite good – unexpected for most people. I think I did well. I’m happy to have my first match back. I would consider it a special day.”
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The 32-year-old admitted her career would have been over if the four-year ban had been upheld, but she remained confident the appeal against it would go her way. “My parents always taught me that good always prevails,” she said. “I have 100% confidence from day one to last that the truth will come to light and that the decision will be made in a fair manner. I knew I’m clean. I knew I had done nothing wrong. I believed that it is impossible to stay for four years for something that does not exist.”
Venus Williams remains without a win since August last year after a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Diana Shnaider, who is 24 years her junior.