Serena Williams slammed by WTA teammates for brutal beating by Simona Halep

Romanian tennis star Sorona Cirstea Attack Serena Williams The 23-time Grand Slam champion appeared to take a dig at Simona Halep’s four-year ban. Last week, Williams posted a cryptic tweet: “8 is a better number.”

The news comes after Halep suffered a devastating blow after being banned for four years for two separate anti-doping rule violations. An independent tribunal upheld both charges earlier this month. Halep will not play until October 6, 2026, but the two-time Grand Slam winner has vowed to appeal the decision.

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Many tennis fans believe Williams was referring to her seven Wimbledon titles in the post, a number that could have been eight had she not lost to Halep in the 2019 final. Following Halep’s bad news, fellow Romanian Sistea took aim at Williams’ position.

Williams, ranked 25th in the world, called her “arrogant” in an interview with Romania Sports. “Serena was outstanding as a player. As a person, she always had this arrogance. She didn’t accept that anyone could beat her or take the title away from her,” she said.

After taking a dig at Williams, Sistia defended Halep and said the issue is every athlete’s worst nightmare.

“I know Simone. I don’t think she has consciously doped. This suspension is for an innocent person,” she said. “I’m afraid of eating anything, I’m afraid of taking aspirin. I may be a little paranoid, but it’s no joke. It’s every athlete’s nightmare.”

Halep has been suspended since October 2022 for failing a test for the blood-raising substance Roxadustat. Halep’s hearing was postponed several times before she was charged a second time for an athlete’s biological passport violation.

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Halep defended herself after being suspended and blamed traces of the banned drug Roxadustat on a contaminated supplement. “I am continuing to train and do everything in my power to clear myself of these false accusations and return to court,” she said in a statement.

She also said she would work to clear her name and would “pursue all legal remedies against the supplement companies involved.”

Serena Williams caught up in Simona Halep drama

Williams’ husband Alexei Ohanian also appeared to address Halep’s news. Ohanian retweeted a photo of himself wearing a T-shirt that read: “Keep kids away from drugs.” Williams wore this T-shirt in 2019 when he faced off against Maria Sharapova. It caused a stir at the time and the Russian was banned for 15 months after failing a drugs test in 2016.

Ohanian captioned the photo: “Some fashions are timeless.” Williams commented: “Honestly, this doesn’t go out of style.” Williams could have tied Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam records Another Grand Slam title. In 2017, she won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, which was also her last Grand Slam title.

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