WTA Chief Simon Sympathizes With Halep Over Failed Drugs Test - UBITENNIS
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WTA Chief Simon Sympathizes With Halep Over Failed Drugs Test

The multiple Grand Slam champion faces a ban of up to four years.

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SIMONA HALEP OF ROMANIA - PHOTO: MATEO VILLALBA / MMO

The head of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) believes Simona Halep would never intentionally take illegal substances but stands by the sports anti-doping programme. 

Halep is currently suspended from competition after testing positive for roxadustat during this year’s US Open. An anti-anaemia drug which stimulates the production of haemoglobin and red blood cells in the body. The two-time Grand Slam winner has since issued a statement describing her failed drugs test as a ‘huge shock’ and has vowed to clear her name. The tennis star will attend a tribunal where she will have to provide sufficient evidence that she digested the substance unintentionally. In the worst-case scenario, an athlete can be banned for up to four years for such a violation. 

Weighing in on Halep’s suspension from the Tour, WTA chief Steve Simon says he backs the Romanian and her bid to clear her name. During an interview with The Associated Press, Simon said he was confident that the ‘truth is going to come out’ as he pledged his full support behind the anti-doping procedures used in tennis. 

“I believe her that she didn’t intentionally do something here. That being said, I do believe very strongly in our anti-doping program, and I think it’s a good one, and our players support it, too. And if you ask Simona, she supports it,” Simon said. “I’m very confident that as we go through the process, the truth is going to come out, and we will deal with it accordingly. But I have a lot of sympathy for Simona, because I would never question her integrity.”

The head of women’s tennis is the latest figure to lend their support behind Halep. Her former coach Darren Cahill and former manager Virginia Ruzici have both issued statements saying they believe she would never dope. A series of players have also spoken out about the matter, including world No.1 Iga Swiatek who said she was ‘confused’ by the situation. 

“For sure it was confusing to me because I wouldn’t expect hearing this news,” Swiatek said during her pre-tournament press conference at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth.
“Simona, from my point of view, seems like a person who always cared about being fair, and she was a great example for me.
“So hopefully… I don’t know how it works in terms of the system that they’re going to… Is she going to be tested a couple of more times or whatever?
“Hopefully, it’s going to be more clear for fans and for us. But, yeah, it’s kind of like disappointing, and she must feel really bad.”

The duration of how long Halep will have to wait before attending her hearing depends on the complexities of the evidence she and her legal team will need to gather. In response to a question asked by Gazeta Sporturilor, The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) say the date of the hearing is not confirmed yet but they will not be releasing any details to the public until a verdict has been reached.

“There is no confirmed date yet. The hearing will be convened by an independent organisation, Sports Resolutions, who will decide the composition of the jury and confirm the details. We will not confirm the date of the hearing or hearings, but will communicate the final outcome when it is known,” an ITIA spokesperson told Gazeta Sporturilor.

Halep has won 24 WTA titles and earned more than $40M in prize money during her career.

WTA

Coco Gauff And Aryna Sabalenka Struggle Through In Indian Wells Openers

The duo were pushed to three sets in their first matches played at this year’s WTA 1000 event.

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Coco Gauff admits she didn’t play her best tennis at Indian Wells on Saturday after coming through a rollercoaster three-set battle. 

The world No.3 needed more than two hours to oust France’s Clara Burel 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Gauff found herself trailing multiple times during the match. After losing the opening set, the reigning US Open champion then had to battle back from a 0-4 deficit in the decider. Capitalising on some tentative hitting from Burel who was bidding to record the biggest win of her career. 

Despite prevailing, it was a far from vintage performance from Gauff who hit six double faults and 14 unforced errors during the first set alone. She also struggled behind her second serve, winning just 12 out of 36 points played. 

“I think for me it’s just getting through that match definitely meant a lot,” Gauff said. “Could have easily thrown in the towel. But honestly, I was just telling myself, like, win or lose, I don’t want to have any regrets on the court. I want to be like I gave myself the best opportunity to win, and I did that.
“Am I proud of how I played? Not really, to be honest. But the fight, I am proud of. I am eager to improve. I think it wasn’t my best tennis at all. I think I just have a lot of improvement that I can do to get better.”

The 19-year-old has become the first teenager in the last 15 years to have won 50 or more matches at WTA 1000 events. She will next play Lucia Bonzetti.

“That’s pretty cool,” Gauff commented on her latest milestone. “I feel like I have a lot of stats and stuff like that. Hopefully I can close this chapter of my life off good. I’m really happy with how my teenage years went.” 

Sabalenka avoids major upset 

Aryna Sabalenka was another player to experience trouble during their opening match after outlasting Peyton Sterns 6-7 (2), 6-2, 7-6 (8), in a clash that lasted almost three hours. The world No.2 was on the verge of losing and had to save four match points when down 4-5 in the final set. Despite that blip, she held her nerve to break back before prevailing in a tightly contested tiebreaker. 

“Wow, I think I was right when I see this tattoo of a tiger and I was fighting today like a tiger,” said Sabalenka. “It’s just crazy what happened. She’s an unbelievable player.
“She played crazy tennis. She said at the net, ‘I had you,’ so she’s right. I was probably a little bit lucky to get this win. Super happy to get through this.”
“I didn’t play my best tennis and she was crushing it like crazy. I was just trying to stay in the game and keep fighting for every point. But this match definitely goes into the book of craziest matches and the best matches of my career.”

Sabalenka is hoping to go one step better in Indian Wells than 12 months ago when she reached the final before losing to Elena Rybakina, who has pulled out of the tournament due to gastrointestinal issues. 

Awaiting the Belrussian in the next round will be Emma Raducanu in what will be the first meeting on the Tour. 

Elsewhere, Naomi Osaka posted a convincing 7-5, 6-3, win over world No.15 Luidmila Samsonova. It is the first time she has beaten a top 20 player since returning to competitive tennis following the birth of her child. 

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Caroline Wozniacki Expresses Delight After Vekic Win, Ons Jabeur Crashes Out

Caroline Wozniacki earned a big win over Donna Vekic at Indian Wells while Ons Jabeur crashed out.

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Caroline Wozniacki is into the third round at Indian Wells after toppling Donna Vekic 7-6(3) 6-3 while Ons Jabeur crashed out.

The former Australian Open champion produced a resilient and clinical display to knock out Vekic in straight sets.

It was a clinical display on return as Wozniacki neutralized the Croatian’s serve to break on three occasions to reach the third round.

Speaking after the match Wozniacki described Indian Wells as one of the best tournaments in the world and was happy with the performance, “Donna is a great competitor, great player. I thought we both played really well today. Just happy to be through this one,” the 33 year-old told the WTA website.

“I’m here because I love to be here. You know, I’m lucky enough that I have been given some wildcards so I’m able to play these big tournaments and compete against the best players in the world.”

Wozniacki will now face Katie Volynets in the third round after the American stunned sixth seed Ons Jabeur.

The world number 131 recorded the biggest victory of her career against the out-of-sorts Tunisian in a 6-4 6-4 win.

In an interview after the match Volynets described how much it meant to her to beat one of her idols, “I’m so honored to have a wild card here and I’m so honored to play Ons,” the wildcard told the WTA website.

“I’ve been watching her on TV for years so it’s just such an honor to play here on this court against such a wonderful player. I’m definitely pleased with how I was able to execute today.

“I think it was very close the entire time. She was throwing in some amazing drop shots and slices and injecting some pace. I’m glad I was able to overcome that.”

The winner of Wozniacki and Volynets will play the winner of Veronika Kudermetova against Angelique Kerber.

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Simona Halep To Make Tennis Return In Miami

Simona Halep has a wildcard into the Miami Open.

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Simona Halep will make her return to tennis in Miami after receiving a wildcard for the tournament.

The Romanian hasn’t played competitively for 19 months with her last appearance being a first round defeat to Daria Snigur at the 2022 US Open.

After her appearance in New York, Halep would be banned for four years from competitive tennis after failing a doping test.

A lengthy appeal process followed from Halep which eventually saw her ban reduced by the Court Of Arbitration For Sport to nine months, therefore allowing her to resume competitive tennis with immediate effect.

It hasn’t taken long for Halep to make her next step as the Romanian announced on Instagram that she has received a wildcard for the Miami Open.

It will be interesting to see what shape Halep is in as it would have made more logical sense for the former Roland Garros Champion to begin her comeback on clay.

The 32 year-old has made nine appearances in Miami and her best performance has been reaching the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019.

Time will tell whether Halep can repeat her past success with the Miami Open starting on the 19th of March.

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