Romanian champion Simona Halep has found herself on a path of thorns. After she received a 4-year ban from tennis, the internet was the last place she could rely on. Though her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, supported her throughout the process, Halep hardly received any positive gestures from the WTA circuit. Moreover, after the verdict was announced, the French coach’s ex-coachee, Serena Williams, threw shade at her professional rival for which she was labeled ‘arrogant.’

Halep’s compatriot commented on the doping verdict and what she felt about Serena’s dig at the two-time Grand Slam champion. The WTA champion also spilled beans on what she thinks of the 23-time Slam champion as a player.

Simona Halep’s colleague dishes out honest opinion on Serena Williams

The American legend lost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at glory when Halep defeated her in the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. Serena, who owns seven Wimbledon titles, commented that 8 is a good number after Halep’s ban was announced, possibly hinting at that old match against the now 31-year-old. ReRe and Alexis Ohanian also took a dig at Maria Sharapova on the same day the power couple made their stance clear against doping.

The former World No.1 Romanian received support from fellow national Sorana Cirstea amid all the flak. In an interview with Sport.ro, Cirstea said, “I know Simona. I don’t think she ever consciously doped. This suspension is for an innocent person. I was afraid to take anything, I was afraid to take an aspirin. I’m maybe a little paranoid, but it’s no joke. It’s every athlete’s nightmare.”

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Speaking on the American legend’s shade at Halep, the World No. 24 said, “Serena as a player was extraordinarily good, but as a person, she always had this arrogance. She didn’t accept when someone could beat her or when someone took a title from her.” The 41-year-old is an aggressive player on-court, and this nature partially contributed to her success.

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Serena is critical of doping because she was regularly tested more frequently for substances than any other player. Nothing came out of those tests, and Momma Smash expressed her angst on anti-doping authorities through Twitter. So when Halep was found guilty, the American vented her feelings, to which Halep subtly responded and received the support of PTPA.

Simona Halep commented on the American legend’s shade at her

In a conversation with Front Office Sports, the Romanian expressed that everybody is entitled to have an opinion since the verdict was ruled out against her. However, Halep also revealed that someone told her that the players are judging and hating her only because the Romanian had defeated them in the past.

But the 24 singles titles winner found some solace in Novak Djokovic‘s Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). The executive director of the PTPA, Ahmad Nassar, confirmed that the association stands with Halep, calling the WTA a disgrace for not taking a stand for their player. Nassar also assured that PTPA is committed to supporting players’ rights and slammed the authorities for unexplained and repeated delays in Halep’s case.

The Djoker-backed association also stated that Halep shall receive complete assistance from PTPA in her future appeals. The Romanian champion will challenge ITIA’s verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). What do you think about this whole doping controversy?

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