Simona Halep Withdraws from Australian Open Qualifying

Simona Halep has withdrawn from Australian Open qualifying and delayed the start of her 2025 season due to knee and shoulder pain. The 33-year-old former world number one received a wildcard for the tournament last week but experienced discomfort after competing at the World Tennis League exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Halep, who is working to rebuild her career after a four-year doping ban (later reduced to nine months) has been struggling with injuries.

The Romanian, a two-time Grand Slam champion has always maintained her innocence regarding the doping charges. Despite this setback, she is focused on making a comeback but injuries have delayed her return to full fitness. In a statement on Instagram, Simona Halep explained that after extensive discussions with her team, they agreed that it was best to delay the start of her season.

As a result, she will miss next week’s Auckland Classic, an important warm-up event for the Australian Open. Halep’s current ranking of 877 reflects her time away from the tour due to her suspension and ongoing injury issues. Her best Australian Open performance came in 2018 where she finished as the runner-up to Caroline Wozniacki. She plans to return to competitive tennis in early February at her home event in Cluj, Romania.

The Australian Open qualifying runs from January 6-9 with the main tournament beginning on January 12. Halep’s decision to withdraw underscores the ongoing challenges she faces in her return to tennis. With her injuries hindering progress, she has opted for rest, focusing on recovery before making her comeback later in the year.