Simona Halep faces ‘big question mark’ as former world No 1 continues comeback
Simona Halep faces a “big question mark” about her long-term form and ability as she looks to kickstart her comeback, according to former WTA star Coco Vandeweghe.
Halep will be in action at the Hong Kong Open this week, with the former world No 1 looking to build towards a more complete schedule in 2025.
After her doping sanction was reduced from four years to nine months earlier this year, the Romanian returned to action at the Miami Open back in March – her first event since the 2022 US Open.
However, the 33-year-old has struggled with fitness since her suspension finished and has played just three tournaments in the past seven months.
After her Miami campaign, she did not play until retiring injured in her opening match at the Trophee Clarins in May and then did not compete again until September.
Halep defeated Arina Rodionova in three sets in round one of the Hong Kong 125 Open, though was then beaten 6-2, 6-1 by seventh seed Anna Blinkova in the second round.
A month on, the two-time major winner has returned to Hong Kong for the WTA 250 event in the city.
Speaking on Tennis Channel’s Inside-In Podcast, former world 10 Vandeweghe claimed it was hard to predict what level the Romanian would be able to find over the coming months.
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Vandeweghe said: “[I’ve] been seeing some glimpses of Simona Halep up here and there, and trying to see what she still has left in the tank post her drug suspension that she had to fight so hard to reduce and get back onto tour.
“It takes some time, and she’s been going through a couple of hiccups, some injuries here and there, not really feeling her game so well when it came down to it – when we saw her in Miami.
“So it’s definitely going to be a big question mark around Simona Halep of where is she at and also at the end of the year, trying to get a couple of matches before we’re hoping to see her in the Australian Open.”
Before her campaign in Hong Kong, the former world No 1 was training in Dubai with Elena Rybakina, with the Kazakh posting a video of the two practising online.
The current world No 869 does not have an easy draw in Hong Kong, with the Romanian drawn against sixth seed Yue Yuan in the opening round.
The tournament has been decimated by high-profile withdrawals, with the likes of Emma Raducanu, Danielle Collins, and Naomi Osaka all pulling out with injury.
World No 16 Diana Shnaider is the top seed, with Katie Boulter and defending champion Leylah Fernandez among the other leading players in action.
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