Patrick Mouratoglou has joined Alizé Cornet and Sorana Cirstea in expressing support for Simona Halep after the former world No 1 was provisionally suspended for failing a drugs test.
Halep, a former Wimbledon and French Open champion, tested positive for Roxadustat, an oral medication used to treat anaemia by stimulating the production of red blood cells, at the US Open in August.
The Romanian said in a statement on social media that she would “fight until the end to prove that I never knowingly took any prohibited substance”, and her stance has been backed by Mouratoglou, the French coach with whom she has been working since April.
“I support you 100% in this fight Simona,” wrote Mouratoglou on his Instagram story. “All the way through.”
Mouratoglou’s show of solidarity came after Cornet, the Frenchwoman who defeated Halep to reach her maiden grand slam quarter-final at the Australian Open in January, became the first player to voice support publicly for the 31-year-old.
“With you all the way Simona,” wrote Cornet, who herself avoided a doping ban four years ago after an independent tribunal absolved her of blame for missing a third out-of-competition test in 12 months. “It’s unfair but you will win this fight.”
Halep is popular among her peers, and has also received plenty of support from fans on social media since the announcement.
In Cirstea, however, she has found a more unexpected champion. Although the pair have known each other since they were eight years old, and have played together on Romania’s Billie Jean King Cup team, Cirstea has acknowledged that they are colleagues rather than close friends. Cirstea reiterated that stance on her Instagram story, but nonetheless offered her countrywoman a glowing character reference.
“Although we may not be the best of friends, I know Simona well enough for decades to strongly believe that she would never willingly and in good faith touch any doping substance,” wrote Cirstea, the world No 39.
“The sport of tennis represents fair play and puts rivalries aside. She is a great player that I believe won through her own merits.
“I really hope she will fight it out and shed the much-needed light – for her, and for our beloved sport.”
Mihaela Buzarnescu, the former world No 20 and another BJK Cup team-mate, likewise offered Halep words of solace.
“Fingers crossed for you,” wrote Buzarnescu. “We all know what a fighter you are.”
Buzarnescu’s sentiments were echoed by a statement on the official Twitter account of the Transylvania Open.
“We have seen nothing but hard work and devotion from Simona during her entire career,” read the statement. “We are confident that the truth will come out and we will see Simona Back on court soon.”
Others were more circumspect.
“I’ll reserve my thoughts until she has gone through the process of investigating how it happened and how it ended up in her system,” wrote Rennae Stubbs, the Australian former player and coach.
“She’s never struck me as someone who would cheat to get ahead. Hope this is a mistake. If not, then this is terrible.”
Victoria Azarenka, who defeated Coco Gauff 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-3 to move into the semi-finals in Guadalajara, offered a similarly guarded reaction.
“I saw the news,” said Azarenka, “but I don’t know anything about the situation. I just hope it gets resolved whichever way is correct. I’ve played against Simona many, many times. I hope she gets the resolution that she wants.”
Azarenka will face Jessica Pegula in the last four after the American third seed saw off her compatriot Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-2.
In a winner-takes-all showdown, Maria Sakkari defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 to claim the final slot at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth ahead of the Russian. Sakkari joins Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur, Pegula, Gauff, Caroline Garcia, Aryna Sabalenka and Daria Kastakina in the eight-woman singles field for the season-ending showpiece.
“As bad as my season after Indian Wells was, I still just gave myself this chance to finish the year strong,” said Sakkari. “I think that’s the best gift I can give to myself, just making it to Fort Worth. I’m really looking forward for that two-week period there.
The Greek fourth seed will face Marie Bouzkova in the semi-finals after Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya retired with a foot injury while trailing 5-2 in the first set.