Simona Halep will be eager to return to Grand Slam tennis with a bang after being handed a wildcard for the 2025 Australian Open.
Halep found her return to tennis difficult earlier this year, having taken part in the Miami Open after her nine-month drugs ban.
The Romanian, who is a two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, lost to Paula Badosa early on in the March event.
Halep currently occupies 877th place in the WTA rankings, having returned to the sport in 2024 with a 1-4 win-loss record.
But the 33-year-old will be looking to use all of her experience to enjoy a lengthy run at the Australian Open next month.
Simona Halep reacts after being handed 2025 Australian Open wildcard
The Romanian is a 24-time WTA Tour-level champion, with her best result in Melbourne a runner-up spot in 2018.
Halep has now shared her excitement about returning to the Australian Open, writing on X: “Can’t wait to be back.”
What is Simona Halep’s Grand Slam record ahead of Australian Open return?
Halep has received a qualifying wildcard for the first Grand Slam of the season, meaning there will be a long and difficult journey to reach the main draw.
She does, however, know what it takes to reach the final of the tournament, having lost at that stage to Caroline Wozniacki in 2018.
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The Romanian lost two French Open finals prior to that heartache, but did recover to win at Roland Garros and at Wimbledon.
She overcame Sloane Stephens in Paris in 2018, before a superb straight sets win over Serena Williams in London a year later.
Halep’s fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka has been handed an Australian Open wildcard, with the pair set to garner plenty of attention in Melbourne.
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