Simona Halep, former world number one, announced on Thursday that she will delay the start of her 2025 tennis season and skip the Australian Open due to persistent knee and shoulder pain. Halep, who had recently received a wildcard for the Australian Open qualifying tournament, cited recurring discomfort following her participation in the World Tennis League exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.
“After playing in Abu Dhabi, unfortunately, I felt pain in my knee and shoulder once again. After discussing with my team at length, we agreed it is sensible to delay the start of my season,” Halep shared on Instagram.
The 33-year-old Romanian, who was runner-up at the Australian Open in 2018, had also been slated to play at a tune-up event in Auckland. However, her decision to withdraw from both tournaments reflects a cautious approach to recovery. She expressed gratitude to tournament organizers in Auckland and Australia for the wildcards, apologizing for her inability to participate. Halep plans to make her competitive return at her home tournament in Cluj, Romania, in early February.
This marks another chapter in Halep’s tumultuous career, which was disrupted by a doping ban in 2022 after testing positive for roxadustat, a prohibited substance. Although initially banned for four years, her suspension was reduced to nine months in March 2023 following an appeal. Halep has consistently denied knowingly taking the drug, attributing the positive test to contaminated supplements.
A two-time Grand Slam champion, including a victory at Wimbledon in 2019, Halep remains determined to regain her form despite recent challenges.