Simona Halep to play in all star Romanian exhibition alongside Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi in June

Despite being suspended from the WTA tour, former World No.1 Simona Halep is scheduled to play in an exhibition match in Cluj-Napoca, Romania in June.

The Romanian tennis star played her last professional match on the WTA circuit at the 2022 US Open, where she was eliminated in the opening round. Halep failed an anti-doping test a few weeks after the match, and was provisionally suspended. Subsequently, she was found guilty of doping and thus handed a four-year ban from professional tennis, which she is currently serving.

Although Halep is banned from competing at any official tennis event, she has not lost her love for the sport. The two-time Grand Slam champion will be participating at Sports Festival in her native Romania, and will team with compatriot Andrei Pavel to face the legendary duo of Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi in a mixed doubles tennis match, according to event organizers.

The exhibition match is set to take place on June 15, 2024 and tickets have been put on sale and range from RON 170 (EUR 34) to RON 245 (EUR 49), while a VIP ticket is RON 1,500 (EUR 302).