Simona Halep makes reasonable move after Rome wildcard snub

Former world No. 1 Simona Halep has accepted a main draw wildcard into an upcoming WTA 125 tournament in Trophée Clarins, the tournament announced.

After being cleared by the CAS to return to tennis from her anti-doping suspension, Halep launched her comeback at the Miami Open in mid-March. 

Then, Halep accepted main draw wildcards into a WTA 125 tournament in Oeiras and also the ongoing Madrid Open. But reportedly, Halep sustained a knee issue in practice and decided to skip both tournaments and delay the start of her clay season. 

After skipping Madrid, the hope was that Halep would be ready for Rome. But just a couple of days ago, a report from Italy indicated that Halep would not receive a main draw wildcard.

And now, Halep reacted by taking a main draw wildcard into Trophée Clarins, a tournament that starts on May 13th – in the second week of Rome. 

Simona Halep © Getty Images Sport – Alex Pantling

Halep appears to be trending toward returning

Just a few days before the start of Oeiras, Romanian media reported that Halep experienced some knee pain and discomfort in her practice. After Oeiras, Halep targeted to play Madrid but ultimately withdrew.

“Unfortunately my body needs a little more time to be ready and I have made the tough decision not to play in Madrid. Tough because I want to be back on tour asap (as soon as possible), but experience tells me not to rush. Thank you to @MutuaMadridOpen who offered me the wild card and to my fans,” Halep wrote on X just days before the start of Madrid.

But now that Halep has accepted a main draw wildcard into Trophée Clarins, it is a great indication that she is recovering and probably ready to play again. 

Simona Halep © Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill

For Halep, the best-case scenario would be to start her clay season in Trophée Clarins and then also receive a main draw wildcard for the French Open and conclude her clay season there.