Simona Halep, the two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, is set to make her Australian Open return after being granted a wildcard for the tournament’s qualifying rounds.
Halep, 33, has been working her way back into competitive tennis following a doping ban that stalled her career.
Initially suspended for four years in 2022 for testing positive for roxadustat, the Romanian successfully appealed and had her ban reduced to nine months earlier this year.
The 2018 Australian Open runner-up expressed her excitement about returning to Melbourne after a three-year absence. “I’ve been working hard to prepare for the 2025 season,” said Halep, who is currently ranked 877th in the world.
“The Australian Open has given me some of the best moments of my career, and I can’t wait to play again in front of the amazing Aussie fans.”
Halep, who returned to action in March and last competed in October at the Hong Kong Open, where she suffered a first-round loss, is determined to rebuild her ranking and career.
In another wildcard announcement, 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt, son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, will also feature in the Australian Open qualifying rounds.
The teenager hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps, as Lleyton made his Grand Slam debut at Melbourne Park at just 15 years old in 1997.
The Australian Open runs from January 12-26, with the qualifying rounds setting the stage for tennis stars and rising talents to shine.
