"I intend to play as many matches as possible" says Simona Halep as reasoning behind WTA 125k wildcard return

Initially set to play in Rouen next week it seemed, Simona Halep instead will play in Portugal with the former World No.1 set to play the WTA 125k in Oeiras.

Halep spoke of her excitement at playing next week with the multiple Grand Slam champion stating her intention to play as much as possible. Criticised in particular by Caroline Wozniacki for accepting wildcards for big tournaments straight away, she has cracked that status quo by playing at a smaller level.

“I’m very excited to add a new tournament to my calendar,” Halep said recently in an interview with local Portuguese media. “On my return to the WTA circuit I intend to play as many matches as possible and accepting this wild card gives me the opportunity to do so in front of the Portuguese public. I want to thank the tournament for having me and I can’t wait to be there.”

Halep made her return initially last month at the Miami Open. This after testing positive for substance, Roxudustat. The Romanian had her ban demoted from 4 years to nine months on appeal and was free for an immediate return to the sport. “I would rate it as a special day, honestly, considering the period I had” Halep said. “Playing so well, feeling so well on court, feeling so well outside of the court with so many people that are very nice to me and giving me the love, I would say that this day is going to stay very special for me.

“Of course, I had many results in the past, big results. But here it’s something more than tennis, it’s something personal. I really love to see that people are appreciating me beside tennis and beside everything that happened.”