MELBOURNE, Australia — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep pulled out of Australian Open qualifying and a tuneup match in Auckland, New Zealand, on Thursday due to ache in her knee and shoulder, the most recent interruption of her comeback from a drug suspension.
Halep posted on social media that she was feeling poorly after taking part in an exhibition occasion in Abu Dhabi.
“After discussing with my crew at size, we agreed it’s smart to delay the beginning of my season,” Halep wrote. “It is not what I wished.”
The 33-year-old Romanian stated she is planning to subsequent enter the Transylvania Open in her house nation, the place play begins Feb. 3.
Final week, Halep was granted a wild-card entry for qualifying within the Australian Open. She was the runner-up at Melbourne Park in 2018 and gained main titles at the French Open later that 12 months and at Wimbledon in 2019. She has been ranked as excessive as No. 1 however is presently 877th and hasn’t performed at any Grand Slam match since 2022 after lacking all tournaments for 1 1/2 years due to a doping case.
Australian Open qualifying begins on Jan. 6, and the primary draw begins on Jan. 12.
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