Halep Falls to Blinkova In Comeback Bid at Hong Kong

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday October 3, 2024

Two-time major champion Simona Halep has returned to tennis after a four-month injury hiatus. The former World No.1, who returned to the sport in Miami after having her four-year doping ban reduced to nine months, took a wild card into the Hong Kong 125 draw and won her first-round match against Arina Rodionova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Halep, who has not won a match since being reinstated, had missed four months due to a knee injury suffered playing a 125K event in Paris prior to Roland-Garros. The 33-year-old Romanian last won a match on tour at Cincinnati in 2022.

Halep, ranked 1130, fell in second-round action on Thursday in Hong Kong, 6-2, 6-1 to Anna Blinkova.

“Words cannot describe the feeling of being out there on court competing – and winning my first match after such a long period – in the sport I love,” Halep wrote on X after her first-round win. “Thank you for all your support and your love, it means the world to me.

Words cannot describe the feeling of being out there on court competing – and winning my first match after such a long period – in the sport I love. Thank you for all your support and your love, it means the world to me ❤️ pic.twitter.com/s77D8uxiXJ

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) October 2, 2024