Simona Halep's highly anticipated return to tennis ended in a rollercoaster 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 loss to Spain's Paula Badosa at the Miami Open on Tuesday. The Romanian star, playing her first match since a doping ban slashed from four years to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier this month, showed flashes of her Grand Slam-winning brilliance despite the defeat.
Ranked outside the Top 1,000 after her suspension, Halep captivated fans with her trademark grit and powerful baseline play. 'It felt really good,' she said post-match. 'The crowd energy… it’s a special day.' Her 2022 U.S. Open exit – where she tested positive for roxadustat – now feels worlds away as she eyes a clay-court comeback ahead of the French Open.
Badosa, herself rebounding from injury struggles, praised Halep’s 'unreal level' in their three-set thriller. With Paris’ red dirt just two months away, all eyes are on whether the 2018 Roland Garros champ can rally back to peak form.
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'It felt really good,' she said post-match. 'The crowd energy… it’s a special day.' Her 2022 U.S. Open exit – where she tested positive for roxadustat – now feels worlds away as she eyes a clay-court comeback ahead of the French Open.
