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Simona Halep has been dropped from the 2023 US Open entry list owing to her provisional doping suspension. This development has caused plenty of anguish for fans, who have voiced their discontent on social media.
Halep tested positive for a banned substance called 'roxadustat' at last year's US Open. She was accused of another doping offense in May this year. The outcome of the tribunal hearing on the offenses has not been revealed yet, leaving the case in limbo.
During the provisional suspension period, a player is ineligible to compete in any tour event. Accordingly, Halep's name on the US Open entry list was dropped during the qualifying draw itself.
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"A lot of speculation about Simona Halep but never heard anything from officials to indicate she would be eligible for #USOpen. Automatically withdrawn at the time of the qualifying draw this week due to her provisional suspension," tennis journalist Christopher Clarey wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Several tennis fans, however, feel it is unfair on the part of the ITIA to have left Halep in a state of uncertainty, which has kept her from playing for a year.
"This is absolutely ridiculous. There has to be someone who can help??? I mean honestly. Players Council could maybe step in? It has been a year. 1 year without knowing what will happen to her. She deserves better. I just have never seen anything like this in my life. Help her!!!" one fan wrote on X.
Another fan requested the ITIA for an explanation for the postponement of the case's verdict.
"@itia_tennis how can an institution that advocates for integrity justify delaying the verdict!? This delay is deeply unsettling and troubling to countless tennis fans, particularly @Simona_Halep. It's difficult to imagine any reasonable explanation for such a deliberate postponement," their tweet read.
Here are a few other fan reactions to Halep's exit from the 2023 US Open:
Simona Halep last played on tour at US Open 2022
Simona Halep last played a competitive match at the 2022 US Open, where she faced Ukraine's Daria Snigur in the opening round. Making her Grand Slam main-draw debut, Snigur recorded one of the biggest wins of her career by defeating the two-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.
Halep has not been able to compete in tour events since then due to the suspension. The Romanian's inactivity has caused her ranking to drop considerably. From being ranked No. 10 at the end of 2022, Halep has dropped to World No. 1140 on August 21.
Simona Halep is expected to be unranked soon, following her absence from this year's US Open. Meanwhile, Taylor Townsend has taken the Romanian's spot in the main draw of the New York Major.
