WTA star Sorana Cirstea claims Serena Williams has “always been arrogant” after the tennis superstar appeared to criticize Simona Halep The doping ban was slammed.
World number 25 described Williams as a “very good” player but claimed the American “doesn’t accept that anyone can beat her or take away her title.”
On the day Halep was handed a four-year ban last week for a doping violation, Williams posted a message on X/Twitter that read: “8 is a better number.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion did not provide further context for her tweet, but many interpreted it as a hint that she believed she deserved eight Wimbledon titles.
8 is a better number.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 12, 2023
Williams, a seven-time All England Club champion, was defeated by Halep 6-2, 6-2 in the 2019 Wimbledon final. The 41-year-old ends his remarkable career after the 2022 U.S. Open.
during an interview romanian sportsCirstea criticized the American’s post and defended her compatriot Halep, saying she was innocent.
“Serena is outstanding as a player. As a person, she always has this arrogance. She doesn’t accept that anyone can beat her or take the title away from her,” said the 33-year-old Romanian.
“I know Simone. I don’t think she has consciously doped. This suspension is for innocent people. I’m afraid of eating anything, I’m afraid of taking aspirin. I may be a little paranoid, but this is no joke. “This is Every athlete’s nightmare. “
Halep has been temporarily suspended since testing positive for the banned drug Roxadustat at the 2022 U.S. Open last October. The two-time Grand Slam champion was subsequently charged with Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) violations.
ITIA confirmed on Tuesday that both charges had been upheld, with an independent tribunal suspending Halep for four years for breaching the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP). The tribunal, established by the Sport Resolution, met in London on 28 and 29 June 2023 and heard expert scientific witnesses representing Halep and ITIA, who also directly Evidence was provided to the panel.
The former world number one soon announced in a statement that she would appeal the decision, saying: “Today, a tribunal under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program announced a tentative ruling in my case.
“Last year was the toughest tournament of my life and unfortunately my battle continues. I have dedicated my life to the beautiful game of tennis.
“I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and am proud that I have never knowingly or knowingly used any banned substance. “I refuse to accept their decision to impose a four-year ban. “
The 31-year-old has not competed since losing to Daria Snigur in the first round of last year’s U.S. Open.
Roxadustat is a substance legally used to treat anemia, but is included on the WADA list of banned substances because it is considered a blood stimulant that increases the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells.
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