Halep to return to Cluj in early February

Simona Halep's comeback is just around the corner. The 33-year-old Romanian will play her first tournament of the 2025 season at the Transylvania Open in Cluj from February 1, as announced several weeks ago.

The two-time Grand Slam winner was due to take part in the Auckland tournament and then the Australian Open qualifiers, but was forced to withdraw due to knee and shoulder injuries.

Halep was therefore forced to postpone her return to competition, having played just five matches on the main circuit last year (including a first-round victory over Rodionova in Hong Kong on October 2).

The 868th player in the world will therefore be one of the headliners at the tournament to be held in her home country from early February.

She will be looking to kick-start her season in her quest for a return to the very highest level.

The former world number 1, suspended for doping and absent for the whole of 2023, has not won a title since the Toronto Masters 1000 in 2022.