Halep was blocked from Sinner's Paris Masters clash: "It was too painful to know that I'm banned"
WTA
Simona
Halep was banned from attending a Jannik Sinner match while she was suspended.
The former world No. 1 was provisionally suspended in 2022 for doping and later
received a four-year ban for taking Roxadustat. After appealing, the ban was
reduced, and she returned to the Tour in March at the Miami Open.
However,
the much-anticipated return didn’t go as expected for Halep. The Romanian has
only played in two events so far, and injuries have prevented her from
competing since May this year at a WTA 125 event. Additionally, her lack of
ranking forces her to request wildcards to participate in WTA-level
tournaments.
Simona Halep's painful ban
The last
two years have been a nightmare for Halep, who suddenly had to face an
unexpected doping ban. Back in 2022, the 2-time Grand Slam champion had won the
WTA 1000 Canadian Open and reached world No. 6, but she was stunned in the
first round of the US Open, which would be her last match for over 18 months.
After
receiving the doping ban, Halep would only be able to return to the courts in
2026. This not only meant that she couldn't compete, but she was also barred
from attending ATP, WTA, ITF, and Grand Slam events as a spectator: “You know,
I’ve never been in jail, and hopefully I'll never be, but they say, many people
told me it looks like you are in jail,” Simona Halep told We Are Tennis. “I
could not go watch a tennis match. This was the most difficult thing.”
Simona Halep won her last title in 2022 Canadian Open.
The former
world No. 1 was unable to attend Jannik Sinner’s match at the Paris Masters.
The Italian works with Darren Cahill, Halep’s former coach, who has maintained
a close relationship with the Romanian for years: “So, they told me, I wanted
to go to Paris Bercy to see Sinner, and I was not able,” she said. “So, what
did I do that bad that I'm not able to watch a match? This is too much, in my
opinion. When I got the freedom, it was like a relief and the light came back.”
“I did not
watch much,” Halep added. “Because it was too painful to know that I'm banned
and I cannot even play or I cannot even watch in life. I said, I'm not going to
watch the TV. I watched, I think, maximum eight, ten matches in two years.”
“It has
been a very difficult period (almost two years) mentally and emotionally for
me, and struggling physically on top of that definitely doesn’t help. I have
decided to take the time needed to recover properly, rather than training and
playing through pain. My instinct has always been to try to come back as soon
as possible, but I am not a machine, I am a human being, and I need time to
recover from everything I have gone through.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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