Simona Halep arrives at Miami Open in preparation for first tournament since suspension

Simona Halep is back in the 305.

The former world No. 1 has landed at the Hard Rock Stadium for the Miami Open, where she has already begun practicing for the WTA 1000 tournament, for which she has received a wild card into her first tournament since the 2022 US Open.

Sharing a photo to her Instagram stories, Halep showed off the end of her practice session with João Monteiro, a former ATP player-turned-coach.

Halep was cleared to resume her career last week when the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) shorted the suspension she received for multiple anti-doping rule violations from four years to nine months, throwing out one of the charges pertaining to her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) and ruling that she did not intentionally consume the banned substance roxadustat

“In the midst of this challenging journey, my unwavering belief in the integrity of the truth and in the principles of justice has been my beacon,” Halep wrote in a statement posted to social media upon the CAS announcement. “Despite facing daunting accusations and formidable opposition, my spirit remained buoyant, anchored in my unwavering conviction of being a clean athlete. This ordeal has been a testament to resilience, and the triumph of truth is a bittersweet vindication that, albeit delayed, is immensely gratifying.”

The two-time Grand Slam champion was swiftly offered a wild card to compete in Miami, a tournament where she has twice reached the semifinals—including 2019, when the tournament first moved its current location at the Hard Rock Stadium.

Having not competed in over a year, Halep will be unranked and unseeded in the Miami women’s singles draw, leaving open the possibility that she can face the likes of top seeds Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, or Coco Gauff in the opening round.