Simona Halep didn’t expect her return from the doping ban to be smooth-sailing, as 18 months was a long period of inactivity, especially at her age, but it seems that the comeback is way more rocky than the 32-year-old can handle. The last blow to the Romanian is the fact that she has not been given a wildcard for the French Open, the tournament she won in 2018. Amid this disappointment, the word is out that Halep ended her cooperation with coach Carlos Martinez after just seven weeks and is even considering calling it quits on her tennis career altogether.
Halep played just one full match since comeback
After a draining battle to return to competition following a positive test for the banned substance roxadustat at the 2022 US Open, Halep made her much-anticipated return at the 2024 Miami Open. Despite being prepared for a tough road back from her doping ban, the reintegration into the tour has posed significant obstacles.
Since her return, the Romanian has completed just one full match, a defeat to Paula Badosa in the first round of Miami. Subsequently, she withdrew from clay-court tournaments in Oeiras and Madrid. Halep’s latest appearance, at the WTA 125 Tropheé Clarins in Paris, ended prematurely due to a knee injury.
No Roland Garros wildcard is a major blow to Halep
According to the latest reports from Romanian media, not receiving a wildcard for the upcoming Roland Garros was another significant blow to Halep. Not getting a chance to play the Grand Slam she won six years ago has deeply disappointed her. Furthermore, her chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics, a dream she harbored, are now slim to none.
Split with coach Carlos Martinez
Sources close to the WTA player claim that Halep is extremely affected by these setbacks. As a result, she has informed coach Carlos Martinez that their collaboration will no longer continue, after only seven weeks of working together.
The Spanish coach hasn’t commented on the situation, but he was nowhere to be seen at the Tropheé Clarins tournament in Paris that Halep played this week. This information is further supported by images that have surfaced of Simona Halep and Alize Cornet training together. The pictures clearly show everyone present at the scene except for Carlos Martinez.
Is the end near?
Considering all these circumstances and disappointments, the Romanian portal iAM Sport has even raised the possibility that Halep is contemplating retirement from tennis. The former world No.1 was on the verge of retiring in 2021, during a period of declining form caused by injury. Coach Patrick Mouratoglou played a pivotal role in reviving her career. “He brought that fire back,” Halep said about Mouratoglou when she began working with him in April 2022. However, he was the one who later led her into a doping scandal.
