Jimmy Connors, the legendary tennis player who won 109 career singles titles (ranked first in the Open Era), spoke on his podcast about Simona Halep’s situation after the former WTA leader was suspended from tennis after she received a positive result from roxadustat.

Jimmy Connors Hopes Simona Halep Is Innocent: ‘Obviously Something Weird Happened’

The former American player expressed his support for the Romanian and said that he does not believe that she used banned substances on purpose.

“I saw the news. I don’t think that’s actually the case. Obviously, something strange happened. She is a two-time Grand Slam champion, she is a player who works very hard, who takes care of herself. I do not defend her and I do not blame her. I’m just saying what I saw from her side.

After seeing the news, I said that it was necessary to read more, but did not go into details: what she was doing, how it happened when she was caught.

Now I don’t know the rules of tennis, it’s hard for me to say anything about this case, but I hope it was a mistake and she will come back, because I like her style, she is such a player who works hard and gives everything on the court. I hope she continues to be a force in women’s tennis.” – Jimmy Connorson the Advantage Connors podcast.

Jimmy Connors spent a total of 268 weeks at the top position in the ATP hierarchy.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced last Friday that Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended for failing a doping test at the 2022 US Open.

Shortly after the clarification, which flew around the world, Simona Halep said: “I was informed that I tested positive for a substance called roxadustat in an extremely small amount. I will fight to the end to prove that I have never knowingly taken a banned substance.” Moreover, the ex-WTA leader said that she felt “completely confused and betrayed”.

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