Simona Halep's likely next destination confirmed, receives wildcard for WTA 125k featuring Navarro, Fernandez and Stephens

Simona Halep has seemingly given up on playing the Rome Open which takes place between 8-19 May, 2024 and instead has gone back to her previous tactic which didn't come to fruition of playing lower level during the second week of the tournament.

Halep was due to play Oeiras recently but sustained an injury which meant she had to pull out. But it seems she is wanting to follow a similar route to Elina Svitolina when she returned to the sport and play lower level to get her ranking up. Naomi Osaka has done similar albeit at WTA 250 level in recent weeks.

A tactic though not done by Caroline Wozniacki and Emma Raducanu for instance, especially the former who has not entered qualifying for any of the next few tournaments despite the likelihood that she will not get any wildcards. Halep though will likely be staying ready for another tournament.

That being Roland Garros despite that situation not being as clear cut either with the likelihood being that if she does receive a wildcard, it will be due to French players being in the top 100 so not needing them. Mainly wildcards go to local stars and others from reciprocal agreements with other Grand Slams. There is also the addition that Halep for instance may not receive wildcards as easy as others due to the storm that surrounded her doping ban despite her protesting innocence.

Emma Navarro leads the field for this WTA 125k despite being ranked towards the top 20. She is also due to play over the next few days before Rome due to being knocked out of Madrid by Beatriz Haddad Maia. Sloane Stephens, Leylah Fernandez and Katie Boulter are all set to play this WTA 125k.