Simona Halep aiming to 'play as much as possible' after return - but what's her schedule and next tournament?
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ByEurosport
Published 25/03/2024 at 22:59 GMT
Where is Simona Halep playing next after Miami Open? What is Halep's schedule and who will coach the former world No. 1? Will Halep play the French Open? The two-time Grand Slam winner made her return to action at the Miami Open after having her four-year doping ban reduced to nine months. She was beaten by Paula Badosa in her first match since the 2022 US Open.
'I didn't cheat, I didn't dope' - Halep hits back at Wozniacki on WTA Tour return
Simona Halep made her return at the Miami Open, losing in the first round to Paula Badosa in her first match in 18 months.
Former world No. 1 Halep was cleared to play again after having her four-year doping ban reduced to nine months.
She was given a wild card for Miami – a move that did not impress Caroline Wozniacki who said such players "should work their way from the bottom" – and is now plotting out her clay schedule.
Currently without a ranking due to her time away from tennis, Halep will need wild cards to get into top tournaments this spring.
Where will Halep play next and what's her schedule?
After plenty of time waiting, Halep’s return to tennis eventually came about quickly.
She found out at the start of the March that her ban had been reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, clearing her to return, and a fortnight later she was in Miami.
She admits it was not exactly how she had planned it.
“This was so fast. To be honest, I was thinking that I would come back on clay to have a little bit of time to take a breath and settle down,” she told WTA Insider.
“But the positive feeling was so big, and I had some people around me who told me you have to go to feel the energy again. It was the right decision, the best decision to come to Miami, to feel the energy, to feel the love of people and to feel the freedom again.”
The clay season starts in early April with WTA 500 events in Charleston and Stuttgart.
It has not been confirmed yet where Halep will continue her comeback.
“I don't have a plan,” she admitted after Miami.
“It's just the first tournament, and I don't know what the plan is going to be, but I want to play as much as possible to get the rhythm back.
“I'm old. I'm not that young anymore and I have to manage the comeback very well. I don't want to get injured. Most people told me to be worried about it because 18 months is a lot and I have to take it slow.”
Halep added in her press conference that it’s “too early” to speak about any goals for this season.
“I'm going home. I will need to practice harder because the level is very high these days, and then I will see.”
Who will coach Halep?
Halep was previously coached by Patrick Mouratoglou.
However, that relationship has come to an end and Mouratoglou is now working with Holger Rune.
Next in Halep’s corner could be Carlos Martinez, who has previously worked with Svetlana Kuznetsova and Daria Kasatkina.
“Firstly, I need a coach to guide me a little bit,” said Halep in Miami.
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Carlos Martinez and Daria Kasatkina
Image credit: Getty Images
“I'm waiting for Carlos Martinez and to start with him. We set up a trial period. He worked with Svetlana, my friend and favourite tennis player. I admire his work.
“So, hopefully, we get very well along, and we're going to do some good results. But firstly, I need to talk to him and he needs to see me to tell me where I am because alone, it's difficult to set your level.”
Will Halep play the French Open?
Halep has not played a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open, where she was beaten in the first round.
The next major on the calendar is the French Open, which is Halep’s most successful Slam, having won it in 2018 and made the final in 2017 and 2014.
If Halep is going to return to Roland-Garros this summer it seems likely she will need a wild card.
Securing a spot in the main draw would only be possible with some very strong results over the clay season.
The French Open starts on May 26.
Will Halep play the Olympics?
Halep has played just one Olympic Games in 2012, when she was beaten in the first round of the singles.
She missed Rio 2016 due to concerns over the Zika virus and then withdrew from Tokyo 2020 due to injury.
Without a ranking position and with four Romanian players in the top 150 of the WTA rankings, it seems unlikely that Halep will get a spot on the team in Paris this summer.
A country can nominate a maximum of six players for each of the men's and women's events at the Olympics.
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