At her most recent game at the Miami Open, Simona Halep lost to Paula Badosa in three sets after being suspended from playing due to doping. This was her first match since her four-year suspension was cut short to nine months.
Halep, a two-time grand slam champion from Romania and who also held a top spot in the world rankings, started the game smoothly as she breezed through the first set in just 38 minutes as if she had never been away. However, the determination and perseverance of Badosa, who formerly ranked 2nd in the world, led her to victory with 1-6, 6-4, and 6-3.
A roxadustat effect on Halep?
Badosa started with a momentum that Halep immediately answered. Regardless of her enthusiasm, Badosa still won in less than two hours.
Now, Badosa is scheduled to compete against Aryna Sabalenka. But, due to the death of her partner Konstantin Koltsv, there might be uncertainty regarding her participation in the game.
In other news, Halep was charged with a doping offense because of irregularities in her athlete biological passport (ABP), which is designed to check the blood parameters of athletes over time to reveal possible doping activities. She was also suspended after being positive for obtaining roxadustat, an illegal substance that increases the formation of red blood cells, at the U.S. Open.
Read more about Simona Halep’s doping.
Cover Photo: IG
Source: Stadium Astro
Simona Halep reemerges on court, expresses surreal sensation