By Victor Kanayo
Injury has ruled out two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Simona Halep from the Australian Open scheduled for January 2025.
This was disclosed by Halep via her Instagram page.
She wrote, “After discussing with my team, we agreed that it was reasonable to delay the start of my season.”
Halep, who was eliminated in the Round of 16 by France’s Alizé Cornet in her last appearance at Melbourne Park in 2022, expressed her intention to rest and prepare for her next competition in Cluj, Romania.
“I am excited to play in front of the incredible Romanian supporters,” she added, referring to the WTA 250 event in Cluj-Napoca scheduled for February.
Halep was initially handed a four-year suspension following a positive test at the 2022 US Open and a biological passport anomaly.
However, in March 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced her ban to nine months, allowing her return to competition at the Miami Open.
The former world No. 1 continues to deny any intentional doping.
The Australian Open qualifiers are set to take place from January 6 to 9, 2025, with the main draw beginning on January 12.
The 33-year-old player also confirmed via Instagram that she will not compete in the Auckland tournament prior to the Grand Slam.
After playing in Abu Dhabi, Halep experienced renewed pain in her knee and shoulder.
