Serena Williams makes feelings clear in pointed message after rival hit with ban
Serena Williams has seemingly issued a response to Simona Halep’s four-year suspension from tennis - and suggested another Wimbledon title should be coming her way.
The Romanian was found to have violated the sport's Anti-Doping Program on two separate occasions and handed a four-year ban. Following the decision to ban the former World No.1, the 23-time Grand Slam took to social media platform X and posted: “8 is a better number.”
Given the timing of her message, it appears to indicate that the tennis legend is referring to the 2019 Wimbledon final. The American entered the match as the clear favourite, but she had no answer to Halep’s brilliance. She claimed the first of her two Grand Slam titles on that day, comprehensively defeating Williams 6-2, 6-2.
Halep denied the tennis icon an eighth Wimbledon crown that day. If Serena’s tweet is anything to go by, she would be happy to be credited with another major should Halep be stripped of the title due to her ban. Should that come to fruition, the 31-year-old’s victory at the 2018 French Open may also be in jeopardy.
On that occasion, Halep recovered from a set down to beat Sloane Stephens on Court Phillipe Chatrier and went one step further than in 2014, when she was defeated by Maria Sharapova in the final. But these hypothetical situations are the least of Halep’s worries as she vows to appeal and clear her name following today’s damning verdict.
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"Today, a tribunal under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme announced a tentative decision in my case," she said in a statement. "The last year has been the hardest match of my life, and unfortunately my fight continues. I have devoted my life to the beautiful game of tennis. I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban."
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed the Romanian has been banned for two separate anti-doping rule violations. The 31-year-old was already serving a provisional suspension after testing positive for banned blood-booster roxadustat after the 2022 US Open. The drug increases the production of red blood cells and helps boost levels of endurance.
Halep hammered Williams 6-2, 6-2 in the final at the All England Club four years ago (GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)In addition to testing positive for roxadustat in a urine sample taken on August 29 2022, Halep was found guilty of using an unspecified prohibited substance or method last year. This came after some discrepancies in her biological passport appeared through "collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by the player."
Halep's ban means she will not be able to return to the WTA tour until Oct. 7, 2026, when she will be 35 years of age. She thanked her loved ones and fans for their support and she fights to get her ban overturned. "I am eternally grateful for the outpouring of support I have received from my family, friends, and tennis fans around the world,” Halep added.
“I am continuing to train and do everything in my power to clear my name of these false allegations and return to the court. I intend to appeal this decision to The Court of Arbitration for Sport and pursue all legal remedies against the supplement company in question."
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