Simona Halep will make her return for the first time since August 2022 next week at the Miami Open (from March 19) with the former World No.1 and multiple Grand Slam champion one of main focuses of attention on her return to tennis after her long protracted doping saga and her draw fate has been confirmed.
Halep who tested positive for the substance Roxudustat which was found in a collagen supplement had a four year ban reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. This gave mixed messages to fans with some overjoyed about her returning and others feeling it sets a dangerous precedent.
But given her big name, she was an immediate recipient of a wildcard by tournament director, James Blake for the Miami Open. As a result, she made a quicker return than expected with many expecting a clay court return to be the starting point. She has received a tough draw though with Paula Badosa who is aiming for a comeback trail first up after recent injuries.
But if she gets through that, it is a certain World Number Two in Aryna Sabalenka next up and then it could be Caroline Wozniacki in the third round if she manages to cause the upset. So very much into the fire straight away for the Romanian in the danger of wildcards.
Other players who have received wildcards have received mixed draws with Emma Raducanu potentially on a collision course with Anna Kalinskaya early on, Venus Williams faces tricky Russian, Diana Shnaider as Naomi Osaka will face Elisabetta Cocciaretto who has just won a WTA 125k. Elina Svitolina could be her second round opponent in the same section as Coco Gauff. But still a lot of entertaining ties awaiting.
Simona Halep’s possible path to the Miami Open title: R1 - Badosa R2 - Sabalenka R3 - Wozniacki / Kalinina / Burel R4 - Samsonova / Krejcikova / Putintseva QF - Q. Zheng / Haddad Maia / Azarenka / Boulter SF - Rybakina / Sakkari / Kalinskaya / Ostapenko F - Swiatek / Gauff…
