Doping drop: Halep down more than 500 spots in a single week in WTA Rankings awaiting tribunal

Romania’s former world number one Simona Halep drops out of the top 500 women’s players in the WTA rankings.

The 31-year-old has been provisionally suspended after testing positive in a test for the banned substance Roxadustat.

Because of not playing tennis at the highest level due to suspension for a long time, Halep has been dropped to 520th rank after losing 900 points earned last year.

The news will be a devastating one for Halep who will be eager to return to playing tennis and is still fighting her case against the suspension.

Halep, who became the world number one in October 2017, has an impressive record while playing at big events.

She has played in the semifinal or beyond of each of the Grand Slams. Not only that as she won two major titles in her career as well.

The first of those victories came in the year 2018 as she defeated America’s Sloane Stephens in the final with a score of 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 to lift the Australian Open.

A year later, Halep absolutely thrashed former world number one America’s Serena Williams in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2 to lift the Wimbledon title.