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6 Months After Simona Halep’s Staggering Doping Ban, Retired Tennis Star Ashleigh Barty Breaks Silence for the First Time to Give an Open Statement- ‘I’ve Spoken to Her..’

Published 05/11/2023, 4:07 PM EDT

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The entire tennis community has often been astounded by the remarkable prowess of Simona Halep on the court. However, the fans are now sorely missing the Romanian tennis player ever since she faced a provisional suspension in the previous season due to a failed drug test.

Now, the former French Open champion has recently issued a statement in order to hasten a hearing. Taking note of the same, her close friend, Ashleigh Barty has now shown solidarity during the adverse phase of her journey.

Simona Halep gets strong backing from her old rival, Ashleigh Barty

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During her journey on the court, the 31-year-old player previously reached unprecedented heights by clinching two Grand Slam titles. Simona Halep was undoubtedly one of the most dominating figures as she also attained the number 1 ranking in the women’s circuit.  However, her stellar journey was hindered after she tested positive for the banned substance, Roxadustat in the previous season.

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Since then, the Romanian tennis star has often been a target of scrutiny from the public. Despite all the flak, she has remained rigid about her stance that she didn’t any banned substance. The former French Open champion has further pleaded with authorities to hasten a hearing as she has already missed out on a number of tournaments.

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During the adverse phase, the former Australian tennis player, Ashleigh Barty has now come forward to showcase her support to the WTA player. In a recent interview with The Guardian, she stated, “I love Simo and I respect Simo. I’ve spoken to her a little bit over the last 12 months or so, just checking in to see how she is going. She is an exceptional person.”

She added, “I really sincerely hope that she has an opportunity to have her say and to explain her side, because there are always two sides to every story.”

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Just like every other fan, the Aussies tennis star also wants her old rival to grace the courts with her remarkable prowess.

Another prominent figure has recently supported Halep

Apart from Ashleigh Barty, the legendary French tennis coach, Patrick Mouratoglou recently showcased his support for the WTA player. Mouratoglou also came across Simona’s announcement on social media which she opened up about her her doping ban. Just like the Romanian tennis star, her coach has also urged the authorities to quick action regarding the suspension.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer.

What do you think of Mouratoglou and Barty taking sides with the Romanian tennis player? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Anurag Gusain

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Anurag Gusain is a tennis writer at EssentiallySports. Being a huge tennis fan, he enjoys watching the Spanish legend Rafael Nadal dominate other superstars on the ATP Tour. His coverage of Nadal's 14 French Open titles has been hailed as some of the best in the business, showcasing his talent for storytelling and his ability to capture the essence of the sport.
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Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui