(Reuters) – Simona Halep is set to make her competitive comeback this week after successfully appealing a doping suspension. The Romanian player, whose four-year ban was reduced to nine months by the top court for global sport, has accepted a wild card entry into the Miami Open. She will face Paula Badosa in her first match, with the winner advancing to play world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the second round.
Halep’s return to the court comes after her upset in the first round of the 2022 U.S. Open. She had been suspended in October 2022 for testing positive for the banned drug roxadustat, which stimulates red blood cell production. Halep has consistently denied the allegations against her.
The former world number one, who has won Wimbledon and the French Open, holds a 2-0 record over Badosa and will look to continue her dominance in their head-to-head matches.
Meanwhile, top seed Iga Swiatek, the reigning champion of Indian Wells, missed the Miami Open last year due to injury. She returns in top form, coming off a commanding victory over Maria Sakkari in the Indian Wells final.
Swiatek will aim to achieve the Sunshine Double by winning both the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles consecutively, a rare feat in tennis. She could join the likes of Steffi Graff as one of the few women to accomplish this twice.
Florida resident and rising star Coco Gauff, who reached the semi-finals of Indian Wells, will also look to make her mark in Miami. Gauff, a crowd favorite, last triumphed at the U.S. Open and is eager to perform well in front of her home crowd.
On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz will be vying for the final piece of the Sunshine Double after a successful title defense at Indian Wells. Alcaraz defeated reigning Miami Open champion Daniil Medvedev in a rematch of the 2023 California final.
Despite a competitive field in the men’s draw, one notable absence will be Novak Djokovic, the six-time Miami Open champion and world number one. Djokovic has chosen to limit his tournament appearances as he navigates the later stages of his career.
The 36-year-old Serbian has yet to claim a title this year, having reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and suffered an early exit at Indian Wells. His absence in Miami will be felt, but it opens up opportunities for other players to shine in the prestigious tournament.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
