Simona Halep has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Madrid Open in order to focus on improving her fitness. She expressed that she requires more time to reach her peak physical condition after being absent from competition for over 18 months.
The former Wimbledon and French Open champion recently returned to the court as a wild card entry at the Miami Open, where she was defeated in the first round by Paula Badosa.
In a statement shared on X, Halep explained her decision, stating, “Unfortunately, my body needs additional time to prepare, and thus, I have made the difficult choice to skip the Madrid Open.” She acknowledged the challenge of not being able to compete but emphasized the importance of patience in her recovery process. She also expressed gratitude to the organizers of the Mutua Madrid Open for offering her a wild card and thanked her fans for their support.
Halep’s absence from competition stemmed from a doping suspension in October 2022 following a positive test for Roxadustat during the US Open. Despite denying any intentional use of banned substances, she faced additional charges related to irregularities in her athlete’s biological passport. However, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced her ban to nine months, Halep was cleared to return to professional tennis.
The former world No. 1, whose ranking has significantly dropped during her absence, is now focusing on regaining her form and fitness to return to competitive play.
Meanwhile, the WTA is reviewing its regulations regarding doping offenses, considering the possibility of implementing “special rankings” for players who have served their bans or had them reduced, allowing them to return to the tour under certain conditions.