Former world number 1 Halep starts her tennis comeback at the WTA 125 tournament in Hong Kong

Former world number 1 Simona Halep will make a surprise return to competitive tennis in Hong Kong after a nearly two-year break.

The two-time Grand Slam champion’s four-year doping ban was reduced to nine months earlier this season, allowing her to return almost immediately, but after a brief appearance at the Miami Open her comeback was derailed by a knee injury.

The 33-year-old 2018 French Open champion and 2019 Wimbledon champion, who took part in the Trophee Clarins tournament in Paris in May, had to retire midway through her first round match against McCartney Kessler.

Now the Romanian, who was the world’s best for a total of 64 weeks between 2017 and 2019, is fit again and has received a wildcard entry into the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125, which starts at Victoria Park on Monday.

“I’m looking forward to getting back into action in Hong Kong,” said Halep. “It’s been a while since I’ve stepped on the field but I’m feeling great and really looking forward to getting back out there.”