Romanian WTA star Simona Halep’s days of sorrow are finally gone. After a prolonged fight to clear her name in a doping trial, the former WTA number one has successfully proved her innocence and made a return to the sport she played passionately. Now, the Romanian star has been granted a wild card entry for Melbourne, but she has to go through the qualifiers! Stan Wawrinka’s coach is now delving into the situation, highlighting that the WTA star deserved something more.

Stan Wawrinka’s former coach Magnus Norman shared a convincing comment for Simona Halep. This Swedish tennis coach helped Wawrinka secure three Major titles in 2014, 2015, and 2016. He recently delved into Simona Halep’s doping case that started after the WTA star tested positive for Roxadustat during the 2022 US Open. Halep was suspended initially for four years until CAS reduced her sentence acknowledging that the substance entered her system without Halep’s intention.

Halep has already returned to the court and but the qualifying wild card for the 2025 Melbourne Major is her biggest opportunity post-return. However, Norman isn’t satisfied with the decision.

He took to his X platform to express his dissatisfaction with the news. “Should have been a MD wild card!!! In my humble opinion,” he tweeted. Although the Swedish coach’s words were brief, they highlighted how the ordeal impacted Simona Halep’s career given she was the former WTA number one. Since she didn’t do it intentionally, Normal believed that the fraternity could offer her some chances to compensate for the ordeal she had been through, something like a match day wild card so that she doesn’t need to go through qualifiers round.

Halep is excited about this opportunity. In a recent conversation, she expressed great happiness to receive the opportunity to get back on tennis court.

Simona Halep is “grateful” to get the opportunity for Melbourne

According to the Tennis.com, Halep is enthusiastic to play at Melbourne. “The thought of returning to Australia after three years is exciting and I’m very grateful to the tournament for this opportunity. I have been working hard to get ready for the 2025 season. The Australian Open has provided me with some of the best moments in my career, so I can’t wait to be back in Melbourne and playing in front of the Aussie fans,” said Halep. This former WTA number one reached the finals of the Australian Open in 2018 but ultimately lost the trophy to Caroline Wozniacki. Halep reached the quarterfinals and the semifinals of this tournament four times. This proves that she has some real strength on this surface. Getting the qualifiers wildcard offers her a chance to prove her skills and give her supporters an assurance that her career isn’t over yet.

Simona Halep’s struggle with her doping ordeal showcases the strict rules regarding doping. At the same, it shows how careful players need to be in order to avoid such problems. Nevertheless, Halep’s presence at Melbourne will surely excite her supporters. To know whether she has her old magic, one has to wait for until AO. So, are you ready?