Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has confirmed she will return to competitive action in Miami later this month.
The 32-year-old was banned by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for "intentional" doping violations, but after serving nine months of her original four-year ban, she is ready to return to competitive sport. The former women's No. 1 will return to the court at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida in a tournament that begins on March 17.
"I am excited to announce that I will be making my return to the WTA Tour in two weeks at the tournament in Miami. I thank the organizers for giving me this opportunity and I can't wait to be on the court again and compete with the best. See you soon!", the Romanian wrote on social networks.
Halep has not played since the 2022 US Open, where she lost in the first round to Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur and tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat. Having already served a provisional suspension last year, she will be back with immediate effect as the ban expired on July 6, 2023 and she had already served over nine months of the suspension.
Halep has 24 titles in her professional career, including triumphs at Roland Garros 2018 and Wimbledon 2019, and has amassed just over $40 million in prize money to date. She reached number 1 in the women's world rankings in October 2017. /BGNES
