Former world No. 1 Simona Halep, whose career stalled due to a doping ban that was reduced on appeal this year, will step up her comeback at the Australian Open after receiving a wild card for the qualifying event on Wednesday.
Halep, 33, was provisionally suspended in October 2022 and later banned for four years, a period which was cut to nine months in March following an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Halep, who has denied knowingly taking the banned drug roxadustat, returned to action in Miami in March. She last competed on the WTA Tour at Hong Kong, where she lost in the first round in October.
The 2018 Australian Open runner-up said she was excited to return to the country after three years.
“I have been working hard to get ready for the 2025 season,” said Halep, a former French Open and Wimbledon champion who is currently ranked No. 877 in the world. “The Australian Open has provided me with some of the best moments in my career, so I can’t wait to be back in Melbourne and playing in front of the Aussie fans.”
Meanwhile, Australia’s Cruz Hewitt will look to emulate his father Lleyton by making his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open after organizers handed the 16-year-old a wild card for the qualifying event that precedes the Jan. 12-26 major.
The senior Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion who also reached No. 1 in the world, made his major debut as a 15-year-old at Melbourne Park in 1997 after an inspired run in the qualifying rounds.
Hewitt junior acknowledged that comparisons with his famous father would be made, but said he was intent on forging his own path.
“It is what it is, but I don’t really mind,” he said earlier this month at Australia’s John Newcombe Medal ceremony.
“It just drives me to be better.”
Cruz Hewitt is also expected to contest the junior singles at Melbourne Park.
Reuters contributed to this report.
