The delays in Simona Halep‘s doping case finally ended with an adverse verdict in the champion’s favor. The last time this happened to a champion was to Maria Sharapova, who received massive support from her fans and the tennis community. The Russian admitted that she had been taking meldonium without knowing it was on the list of banned substances. The original 2-year ban on her was reduced to 15 months after Sharapova appealed. Serena Williams stood by her rival and supported her when Sharapova first faced doping charges.

In Halep’s case, the verdict was even more harsh. Yet, few prominent voices chimed in her support during an excruciating and lengthy trial. After the shocking sentence, Serena has taken a moment to dwell on a familiar situation. The 41-year-old tennis legend minced no words as she expressed her stance.

Serena Williams digs up a harsh memory that cost her G.O.A.T. status

Halep received a four-year ban from tennis, and the former American tennis player’s comments were a blow to the Romanian champion. The 23-time Grand Slam winner had reached many finals of the Slam. This allowed her to equal Margaret Court’s all-time 24 Singles titles record before Novak Djokovic. Unfortunately, Serena had to settle in just short of her dream – at 23 titles – having been denied her shot at ultimate glory. The encounter must still sting years on. Now, upon Halep’s ban, Serena posted a cryptic message.

Williams and Halep faced each other in the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. The Romanian defeated the American in straight sets, and Serena felt robbed of the 24th Slam after Halep’s verdict. The American legend tweeted: “8 is a better number”. Serena won 7 Wimbledon titles and would have clinched her eighth if she hadn’t lost to Halep.

The tweet caught tennis fans off guard, as Serena never hinted at any animosity earlier. Fans speculate that the former World No.1 wants authorities to scrap Halep’s 2019 Wimbledon win after her positive doping result. However, since the Romanian faced no doping charges in 2019, it is improbable that the American would get what she wanted.

READ MORE: Struck by Career-Wrecking Four-Year Jolt, Simona Halep Vows to Challenge Tennis? Apex Body as She ?Refuses to Accept Their Decision?

But Serena also showed no mercy in trolling her archrival, despite calling Sharapova ‘courageous’ after she admitted to consuming meldonium. The American legend’s dig at the world’s top seeds for the doping ban epitomizes her ambition, even after hanging the racket.

Maria Sharapova, too, faced a similar fate from her archrival after her ban

After the Russian legend was temporarily banned, the 6-time US Open champion did not support her archrival. Moreover, Serena threw shade at Sharapova for receiving the ban in 2020, over a year after Sharapova’s return. In a conversation with Chanda Rubin, a former top-10 professional, Momma Smash stated that the on-court persona of professionals does not affect her.

Referring to Sharapova, ReRe said she is more focused on the purpose of life. She revealed that people doing drugs do not affect her because the truth emerges eventually. Serena’s domination in the Head-to-Head record with the Russian and Romanian was evident, and tennis fans slammed the American legend for her ‘petty’ stance.

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