Playing her first match since the first-round exit at the Miami Open in March, Simona Halep was leading 7-5 2-3 against American McCartney Kessler at the Trophée Clarins tournament in Paris when a knee injury forced her to retire.
After an absence of more than 18 months due to a doping ban, Halep made her comeback at the Miami Open. However, the 32-year-old’s return was marked by a disappointing loss in the opening match to Paula Badosa. Despite receiving wildcards for the Oeiras and Madrid tournaments, which sparked criticism from some players, the former world No.1 from Romania was forced to withdraw from both clay-court events. Her decision was influenced by her insufficient fitness level and ongoing knee pain.
“Unfortunately my body needs a little more time to be ready,” Halep expressed when announcing her withdrawal from the Mutua Madrid Open, a tournament she had previously won twice. She acknowledged the challenge of the situation, stating, “Tough because I want to be back on tour asap, but experience tells me not to rush.”
Halep’s return to the tennis circuit has been a rollercoaster of challenges and setbacks. The two-time Grand Slam champion’s injury and fitness challenges persist, as evidenced by her mid-match withdrawal during the second set of her opening match against the world No.123 Kessler at the Trophée Clarins, a WTA 125 claycourt event in Paris. Moreover, Halep will not play Roland Garros, the major she won in 2018, due to not receiving a wildcard.
