“Simona Halep's angry, she’s not making rational decisions" - Andrea Petkovic on Romanian's reaction to Iga Swiatek's doping suspension

Andrea Petkovic recently offered her thoughts on Simona Halep's reaction to Iga Swiatek's one-month doping suspension. In August 2024, Swiatek tested positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine (TMZ), while Halep tested positive for Roxadustat during the 2022 US Open.

Halep received a four-year suspension from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in 2023 for finding Roxadustat in her system. However, after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), her ban was overturned, and her suspension was reduced to nine months.

Swiatek tested positive for TMZ due to contamination from a regulated non-prescription melatonin medication. She was temporarily suspended in September but, after appealing, was found to have no significant fault or negligence, resulting in a one-month suspension.

Halep was displeased with the ITIA's decision to give Swiatek the one-month suspension and expressed her frustration on social media. She also questioned why there was a "big difference in treatment and judgment" in her and Swiatek's case.

In light of this, during a recent episode of 'The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast,' Andrea Petkovic expressed that Halep's reaction was out of "anger." She said that the former World No. 1's reaction was emotional and not based on rational thinking.

“She’s angry. She’s acting from emotions. She’s not making rational decisions and you can feel the tide turning on her a little bit. I think the one thing that Simona had through all of this was sympathy. People really were on her side and it’s turning this year just because she hasn’t let go. If I had been in her situation I don’t know that I could have let go either,” Petkovic said.

Rennae Stubbs also chimed in stating that while Simona Halep's reaction was understandable, she should have directed her anger towards the ITIA, WADA, or the CAS rather than Iga Swiatek.

“I wouldn’t have been able to as well. If I felt like I was also ripped off, I would not be throwing it on the player. I will be throwing it on the system. I would be throwing it on the ITIA. I’ll be throwing on WADA. I’d be throwing it on everyone else but the player. She should understand that if the tables are turned, she wouldn’t want Iga throwing darts at her. That’s what I don’t understand,” Stubbs said.

Petkovic suggested that if Halep had swiftly worked with the ITIA like Swiatek and Jannik Sinner, she might have faced less severe consequences.

“If Simona had known right away where the contamination was she would have done exactly the same thing that Iga has or Jannik has. She would have tried to get away with the least impact possible on her career,” Petkovic said.

Andrea Petkovic added:

“And I think that’s where she’s losing people slightly because until now it was against the system, it was, ‘Why am I not being heard? Why is CAS taking eight months to get back to me?’ She has the right to talk about this because why isn’t she being heard when her career is on the line. She’s not 20 anymore. She doesn’t have 15 years left.”

Simona Halep on the impact Iga Swiaek's doping suspension had on her: “Big pain, I was so upset and sad”

Simona Halep talking to the media [Source: Getty]

Earlier this month, while speaking to The Telegraph, Simona Halep shared her thoughts on the impact Iga Swiatek's doping suspension had on her. Halep expressed that she was 'frustrated' with the difference in her and Swiatek's rulings, which left her feeling "sad" and "upset."

“Big pain, big pain. I was so, so upset and so sad when I saw the situation. It’s just unacceptable, from my point of view.” Simona Halep said.

The Romanian revealed that the situation had taken a toll on her mental well-being, causing her to lose sleep due to negative thoughts and worries.

“I lost my sleep again. I lost it for the two years during the process [of contesting her own doping ban]. Then I got it back. And now, after [what happened], I lost it again. All the negative thinking, negative thoughts, it’s not easy to handle,” she added.

Following lifting her ban, Simona Halep returned to the court at the 2024 Miami Open but lost in the first round to Paula Badosa.

Most recently, the former World No. 1 participated at the World Tennis League, an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, where she competed as part of team Kites alongside Casper Ruud, Nick Kyrgios, and Jasmine Paolini.