Andy Roddick believes Simona Halep is a scapegoat in doping saga, likens Patrick Mouratoglou to Diddy 'jumping into every music video'

Andy Roddick has sympathised with Simona Halep, saying that the Romanian has been made "the poster child of a conversation" regarding her current ban from tennis.

Halep has been away from the game since testing positive for a banned substance at the US Open in 2022. She was given a four-year ban from the sport by the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency), but has appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the hopes of a reduced sentence.

Roddick, alongside co-host and former World No. 1 Kim Clijsters, had his say on the matter, criticising Halep's coach at the time Patrick Mouratoglou. "We're talking about Mouratoglou, where she basically flipped her whole team and he was kind of in control, brought in his people, but it stinks because she's going to end up being potentially the poster child of a conversation," he said on his podcast 'Served With Andy Roddick'.

Both Roddick and Clijsters agreed that Mouratoglou was "in control" of the situation that led to the former World No. 1's ban, with Roddick comparing the Frenchman's self-promotion to popular artist Diddy (formerly known as 'Puff Daddy). "It's like, well, you know, this guy who comes in is great at self promotion. His website, I went on it the other day and it's like 18 different photo shoots. It's like a pre-packaged situation. I say it's like Puff Daddy, who used to like, jump into every music video in the 90s. Now, that's like him and player boxes," he added.

Mouratoglou has admitted that he feels responsible for Halep's ban, but is confident that it will be revoked. it is unclear when the verdict on Halep's return will be made.