Simona Halep (32 years old) revealed the plan she devised with her new coach, Carlos Martinez.
Returning to the WTA circuit after her doping suspension, Simona Halep received invitations to the Miami Open, WTA 125 Oieras, and Madrid Open, but has so far only played in the tournament in the United States.
Halep explained that she has nothing to prove, but she wants to return to the elite of tennis, where she was before the doping scandal.
From April 15-21, 2024, Simona Halep will compete at the WTA 125 Oieras in Portugal: "Next week, I will have my first match on clay and I am extremely eager and also very excited, at the same time. I don't know what will happen and how it will be… I have nothing to lose, nothing to prove, and I just want to enjoy tennis and return to where I have been before," stated Simona Halep, according to Digi Sport.
In early March, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced Simona Halep's doping suspension from 4 years to 9 months, allowing her to return to the court after spending 18 months on the sidelines.
In her first official match since her return, Simona Halep was defeated by Paula Badosa in the first round at Miami on March 19, 2024.