Simona Halep Granted Australian Open Qualifying Wildcard After Doping Suspension

The two-time Grand Slam champion returns to Melbourne following a reduced doping ban and a three-year absence.

Simona Halep, a former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion, has been awarded a wildcard for the Australian Open qualifying tournament starting January 6, 2025.
Halep was suspended in 2022 for testing positive for the banned substance roxadustat, but her four-year ban was reduced to nine months after an appeal earlier this year.
The Romanian player, currently ranked 877th, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and highlighted her excitement to return to Melbourne after a three-year hiatus.
Stan Wawrinka’s former coach, Magnus Norman, publicly expressed his belief that Halep deserved a main draw wildcard instead of a qualifying one, citing the unintentional nature of her doping case.
Other notable wildcard recipients include Cruz Hewitt, the 16-year-old son of tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, who will attempt to follow in his father’s footsteps at the Australian Open.