Halep halted as Miami comeback ended by Badosa

Simona Halep started fast but hit the skids in a return to tennis on Tuesday at the Miami Masters just days after a 2022 doping ban against her was overturned, with the former No. 1 going down 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Paula Badosa.

The two-time Grand Slam winner last played a match at the US Open two years ago (568 days) before testing positive for a banned substance which was later found to have been contained in a tainted supplement handed to her by a coach.

The 32-year-old mounted a protest with her ban overturned just day ago by the Court for Arbitration of Sport in Lausanne.

She was quickly handed a wild card into the Miami event for her triumphant comeback to the sport after 18 months of forced absence.

Halep ran away with the opening set against a Spanish opponent plagued for months by back injuries. 

But Badosa proved too resilient as she engineered a comeback to earn a second-round spot in two hours on court.

The No. 80 who once stood second in the world, levelled the sets on her fourth chance and secured victory on a third match point.

Halep was playing Miami for a tenth time, with a 2019 semi-final her best effort.

Main photo:- Paula Badosa comiserates with Simona Halep after winning first round in Miami – by Jimmie48/WTATennis.com

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

2 days ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

2 weeks ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

2 weeks ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

2 weeks ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

1 month ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

1 month ago