Simona Halep’s much-anticipated return to main-level competition came to a disappointing start at the WTA 250 in Hong Kong, as she fell to China’s Yue Yuan in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. The former world No. 1 has faced an arduous comeback trail, first sidelined by a knee injury and then a doping suspension that kept her away from the sport for nearly two years.
Despite some signs of fight, the 33-year-old Romanian was unable to shake off the rust. Early in the match, she fended off two break points but soon lost her serve as Yuan, the tournament’s sixth seed, capitalized on every opportunity to dominate the first set. Yuan, currently ranked No. 45, maintained her grip on the match with a consistent serve and steady baseline play, clinching the set 6-3.
The start of the second set appeared promising for Halep as she surged ahead 3-0. However, her momentum was short-lived; the two-time Grand Slam champion then went without winning a single game as Yuan stormed back to take the set, and the match, in a swift one hour and 22 minutes.
This match marks Halep’s second attempt at a comeback following a five-month knee injury hiatus. She previously competed at a WTA 125 event in early October, where she recorded her first win in two years against Aryna Rodionova before losing decisively to Anna Blinkova.
Reflecting on her challenging journey, Halep had previously expressed the mental and physical toll of her situation, stating, “It has been a very difficult period… I am not a machine, I am a human being and I need time to recover from everything I have gone through.”
With the comeback proving to be an uphill climb, Halep faces a crucial period ahead as she balances recovery with the demands of returning to competitive tennis. For now, fans await to see how the former No. 1 will fare as she battles to regain her footing on the tour.
