"I'm very nervous, I don't know what to expect": Simona Halep details feeling on return to tennis at Miami Open
WTAThursday, 11 April 2024 at 09:40
Former world number one Simona Halep has revealed that she
was ‘very nervous’ while playing at the Miami Open after spending years on the sidelines.
The 32-year-old returned to the court after a gap of more
than 15 months as she was banned from taking part in professional tennis activities
after being found guilty of using the banned substance Roxadustat during the US Open in 2022.
The Romanian tennis star was earlier banned for four years
but later appealed in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) which was then
reduced to nine months. After her ban was reversed, her first competition was
the Miami Open where she lost in the round of 128 to Spain’s Paula Badosa with
a score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Constanta-born, who became the world number one back in
2017 and is also a two-time Grand Slam winner, was recently quoted in a report
where she revealed that she was ‘very nervous’ while participating in the Miami
Open as she was not sure how the players in the locker room would react to her
presence after a gap more than one year.
Read also
“I’m very nervous, I
felt like I don’t know what to expect from people (in Miami). How it’s going to
be — to be in the locker room again. Players’ dining (area). All this routine
that I didn’t do for almost two years, it looked new for me,” she said.
Former world number one Simona Halep reveals that she was happy to be a part of the tennis circle again.
“So it was a great feeling, a great energy, and I was really
happy deep down that I am, again, part of tennis and part of this sport that I
love. So for me, it was a great experience, much better than I expected. And
this made me feel that, OK, now I want to go back and do my best and see how
good I can be, still.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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