dThe Romanian tennis player. Simona Halep Despite a promising start, he only briefly returned to the tennis courts after his doping suspension. In her first match since her ban was reduced, the two-time Grand Slam champion lost at the WTA tournament in Miami to former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain by 6:1, 4:6, 3 :6. Halep remained on the field for almost two hours.

However, Halep was satisfied. “Today will always be like a victory,” the 32-year-old wrote on social media. It was not until March 5 that the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced Halep's sanction from four years to nine months, and she had already served this sentence by that time. For the tournament in Miami He had received a wild card, something that not all players liked.

Halep: “Why did you say that?”

“This is not directly directed at Simona, but if someone cheats intentionally, if someone tests positive for doping… I understand why a tournament would want a big star in the tournament. But I don't think you should give someone a wild card afterwards,” said the former world number one. Carolina Wozniacki after her victory in the first round against the French Clara Burel. Halep was surprised by the Dane's words.

“Because he said that? I did not do anything wrong. I didn't cheat. “I didn't dope,” Halep said: “So it's better if we read in the CAS decision that it was a contaminated dietary supplement. “I've never doped, so I'm not a cheater.”

Halep was from the International last year. tennis The Integrity Agency (ITIA) was banned for four years for two anti-doping rule violations. His last appearance to date was at the 2022 US Open.

Laura Siegemund was the first of four Germans to win her first match in Miami. After some initial problems, the 36-year-old, who reached the main draw through qualification, defeated Serbian Aleksandra Krunic 4:6, 6:2, 6:2. Last year's winner converted against number 626 in the world ranking WTA Doubles finals at 2:40 hours his second match point.

Siegemund will now face Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, the number nine seed. In addition to her, Tatjana Maria, the “Lucky Loser” Tamara Korpatsch and Angelique Kerber are also in the main draw of the Masters, worth 8.7 million dollars (eight million euros). Kerber will face former US Open winner Sloane Stephens of the United States.