Simona Halep returned to Romania on Wednesday night after TAS reduced her suspension (from 4 years to 9 months). The two-time Grand Slam winner spoke at Henri Coande airport about her goals for her return to the field, as well as Darren Cahill, Patrick Muratoglu and Serena Williams (the one who sent a scathing message at the start of the doping scandal in Romania).

Simona Halep: “The truth has surfaced. I did not use any prohibited substances”

“I took this news very well. It was wonderful news, just as I had dreamed. It had to be like that. The truth came out. I always knew in my heart that I didn’t do anything, that I had never taken illegal substances and had no intention of doing so. I am glad that the trial was fair. I was very happy because I had been waiting for this verdict for a long time and I really wanted it to be like this” – Simona Halep.

>> ITIA and Simona Halep clarification: “We respect the player’s right to appeal, as well as the result”

Check out this Instagram post

The post was shared by uD83CuDDF7uD83CuDDF4WTA RomaniauD83CuDDF7uD83CuDDF4 (@wta_romania)

Preparation for WTA Miami – Participation in the Olympic Games, a difficult mission

“I want to go to Miami, but we’ll see, I’ve prepared well, it will be difficult to come back, but I’m going step by step. I also want to participate in the Olympic Games. But the chances are minimal, because they are not in the rating. If I manage to play a few matches before then, I’ll have another chance. I haven’t planned anything yet, everything is an option. I will do my best to play in the Olympics.

I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t watch much of the track because it hurt to watch and know I wasn’t allowed to play, but the level is pretty high. In the TOP-10, the girls have extraordinary strength and play tennis well. I also know what it’s like to be in the top 10 and you’re always ready.

It will be difficult, but also a big challenge for me. I would love to win any Grand Slam trophy, but right now we are dreaming. So we have to wake up to reality, and I will take it step by step, because it will be quite a difficult return” – Simona Halep.

>> The tournament where Simona Halep can return to the field

>> Presence at the 2024 Olympics, Simona Halep’s achievable goal – how to get to Paris

Chris Evert, the first legend to write to him after the TAS verdict

“Chris Evert was the first one to message me and so many other girls on the track and I thank them so much because their support meant a lot. They believed in me unconditionally, and that’s a special thing. All the messages were very nice.

The pressure will no longer be negative in any sense. I thank them very much for their unconditional support, it was truly something unique. It helped me to fight to the end, to show the truth. I also want to thank my sponsors, because they supported me and did not believe for a minute what happened. They were and remain with me” – Simona Halep.

>> WTA reaction after the announcement of the return of Simona Halep: “We fully support the TAS decision”

Will there be new lawsuits after the CAS victory?

“I was very happy when I got the decision and when I talked to all my lawyers. We will discuss this aspect along the way and do whatever is necessary. Everything that happened was wrong” – Simona Halep.

>> Simona Halep, lawsuit against company that produced contaminated supplement – Sportiva seeks huge damages

A new collaboration between Simona Halep and Darren Cahill?

“I don’t have a team at the moment, but I have a few days to build the team the way I want, but it won’t be easy. I take it one step at a time and see how well I can do something. There was also a very good cooperation with the Romanian coaches, but for me the cooperation with Darren Cahill, with whom I achieved the best results, was special. Nothing is excluded, I will think carefully and choose” – Simona Halep.

>> Darren Cahill’s conclusion after the CAS delivered its verdict in the Simona Halep case

He paid for Patrik Muratoglu’s mistake

“He and the team recommended these supplements to me. I’m sure he didn’t do it with bad intentions, but it was a mistake that I paid very, very dearly for. It was just a mistake, that’s all” – Simona Halep.

>> Comment made by Patrick Muratoglu after TAS reduced Simona Halep’s suspension

>> Patrik Muratoglu, released after Simona Halep’s sentence was reduced in CAS: “He lost credibility”

The answer for Serena Williams, after a sharp message from the American

“I have absolutely nothing to convey to him, because I did not perceive absolutely anything negative. Everyone is free to declare whatever they want. There was a lot of criticism, a lot of insults directed at me, but I can say that they motivated me to fight every day, to show the truth, and those who supported me were much more and much more important” – Simona Halep.

>> Serena Williams’ cryptic message after Simona Halep’s 4-year ban

Stere Halep and Gheorghe Hagi are very important to Simona

“Dad always trusted me, exaggerated. I’m not going to argue with him, but it’s going to be tough (no – being number 1 again). To say I’m going to be number 1 in the world is a pipe dream. I was there, and being there is special. But it is very difficult. Many were with me, and once again I thank them very much. Yes, Gheorghe Hagi was my idol as an athlete, and I am glad that he also believed in my innocence” – Simona Halep.

>> The decision of TAS was received with enthusiasm: “Symona Halep will return to the TOP-10 quite quickly”

>> Stere Halep reports on the physical condition of the former WTA leader

>> Ion Cyriak surprised by TAS verdict in Simona Halep case

Simona Halep, addressing young athletes

“It is more difficult to give advice. I want them to believe in themselves and do everything they can to succeed in tennis. To respect tennis, as I have done and as I have always done” – Simona Halep.

>> Harsh conclusion in the case of Simona Halep: “Her victory in the appeal does not compensate for the lost time”

What you need to know about Simona Halep’s doping case

• The news that Simona Halep was temporarily suspended for doping appeared on Friday, October 21, 2022.

• Simona’s case was heard by Sport Resolutions, an independent tribunal in London that hears doping cases in white sport.

• Halep was suspended for 4 years for two separate violations of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP): the presence and use of the substance roxadustat in a urine sample collected after an anti-doping test conducted at the 2022 US Open (1) and a violation of her biological passport (2).

• Halep was heard at the CAS on February 7-9, 2024.

• The Swiss court said that the ex-leader of the WTA asked to cancel the decision of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and “reduce” its sanctions.

• On August 29, 2022, Simona Halep played her last official match on the world circuit. At the US Open, in the inaugural round, our athlete unexpectedly defeated Daria Snigur (at that time, 124th place in the WTA, based on the qualification).