There is a new coach for Simona Halep. The two-time Grand Slam winner will now work with Carlos Martinez, a Spanish teacher.
Halep, who is 32 years old, played in her first event since her doping ban on Tuesday. Earlier this month, she won her appeal against her doping ban and was given permission to play tennis again. Halep went to Miami with her training partner Thiago Monteiro and a masseuse. She showed some early promise but lost in the first round to Paula Badosa 6-1 4-6 3-6.
After she lost in Miami, Halep told Romanian media that her new coach is Martinez. Martinez has worked with Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won two Grand Slams, Daria Kasatkina, and Clara Tauson in the past. Martinez worked with Kasatkina, the 11th best player in the world, for four years before they broke up in February 2023.
“I talked to Carlos Martinez. After Miami, when I go back to Europe, I will have a time of preparation, of getting to know each other, in a way.” She told Digi Sport, “I hope it goes well. I appreciate him a lot. He worked with players I liked, like Svetlana Kuznetsova.”
Halep said of her friendship with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, “I hope we get along and I hope I can work at the level he wants and do good work with him.”
Halep worked with coach Mouratoglou before she was banned for doping. But when everything was over, they went their different ways.
When asked how things are between her and Mouratoglou, who admitted giving Halep a supplement that was tainted with a banned substance without knowing it, the Romanian said that things were fine between her and her old coach.
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Mouratoglou and Holger Rune have been working together again as of late.
“Well, we did see each other two days ago.” We greeted each other. I hope Rune goes well for him. “I know they do a good job,” Halep told the press after the match.
“But it’s done, so I leave them to work.” Yes, we say hello. Okay, so I don’t have any hate in me because I say hello to everyone. It’s fine.
It will be interesting to see if Halep’s coach Martinez can help her make a strong return to tennis after being out for a long time.
