Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has pulled out of qualifying for the Australian Open and can delay the beginning of her 2025 season.
The 33-year-old obtained wild playing cards for Australian Open qualifying and the Auckland Traditional, which begins on Monday stay on Sky Sports activities Tennis with Britain’s Emma Raducanu among the many names competing.
Halep won’t compete for no less than a month as a consequence of knee and shoulder ache after enjoying in an exhibition occasion in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.
She is planning to start her season on the Transylvania Open in early February.
“After playing in Abu Dhabi, unfortunately I felt pain in my knee and shoulder once again,” she posted on social media.
“After discussing with my staff at size, we agreed it’s wise to delay the beginning of my season.
“It’s not what I wanted but I would like to thank the tournament organisers in Auckland and Australia for the wild cards and I’m sorry I won’t be able to take them this time.”
Halep, who was given a four-year doping ban that was lowered to 9 months, final competed on the WTA Tour in October in Hong Kong.
She was the runner-up on the Australian Open in 2018 and gained main titles on the French Open later that yr and at Wimbledon in 2019.
Halep is at present ranked 877th on the earth, having not performed at a Grand Slam since 2022 as a consequence of her doping case.
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