Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Simona Halep reacts after her straight sets defeat to Lucia Bronzetti

Halep announces retirement after crushing defeat

Former world number one Simona Halep has announced her retirement after suffering a resounding defeat in her first match of 2025.

Tennis • 04 Feb

Simona Halep will look to make the most of the opportunity to be amongst the field for the first Grand Slam of the year

Halep eyes redemption with Oz Open qualifying wildcard

Former world number one Simona Halep, whose career stalled due to a doping ban that was reduced on appeal this year, will step up her comeback at the Australian Open after receiving a wildcard for the qualifying tournament.

Tennis • 18 Dec 24

Iga Swiatek (L) and Simona Halep pictured in 2022

Halep hits out after Swiatek escapes long doping ban

Simona Halep has questioned the "big difference" in how doping cases are treated after world number two Iga Swiatek was handed a one-month drugs ban while the Romanian was out of action for over 18 months following two separate anti-doping violations.

Tennis • 29 Nov 24

Simona Halep vigorously denied the charges against her

Halep free to compete again after doping ban cut

Former Wimbledon and French Open champion Simona Halep had her four-year doping ban cut to nine months by the top court for global sport on Tuesday, making the former world number one eligible to return to competition immediately.

Tennis • 05 Mar 24

Simona Halep is a two-time major winner and a former world number one

Halep appealing four-year doping ban

Former world number one Simona Halep has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against her four-year ban from competition for breaking anti-doping rules.

Tennis • 24 Oct 23

Simona Halep has been hit with a four-year ban

Halep banned for four years for doping rule violation

Twice Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has been banned until October 2026 for two separate anti-doping rule violations.

Tennis • 12 Sep 23

Simona Halep has been suspended since last October

Halep insists doping hearing delay infringes her rights

Former world number one Simona Halep has accused the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of seeking to further delay her independent tribunal doping hearing and said she is being denied her right to be heard.

Tennis • 23 May 23

Simona Halep has not played since last August

Halep charged with second breach of doping rules

Simona Halep has been charged with a second anti-doping violation over "irregularities in her athlete biological passport".

Tennis • 20 May 23

Halep unhappy with delay in doping case

Simona Halep has hit out at the delay in her doping case.

Tennis • 27 Apr 23

Simona Halep is currently ninth in the world rankings

Halep provisionally suspended over positive doping test

Two-time grand slam champion Simona Halep failed a doping test at the US Open, the International Tennis Integrity Agency has announced.

Tennis • 21 Oct 22

Elena Rybakina is the first player representing Kazahstan to reach the last four of a Grand Slam

Rybakina battles back to set up Halep semi-final

Elena Rybakina recovered from a shaky start to overwhelm Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6 6-2 6-3 and set up a Wimbledon semi-final with Simona Halep, becoming the first Kazakhstan player to reach the last four of a Grand Slam.

Tennis • 06 Jul 22

Simona Halep receives medical assistance on Court Simonne-Mathieu

Panic attack proves turning point in Halep defeat

Former Wimbledon and French Open champion Simona Halep revealed she suffered a panic attack during her second-round defeat to Zheng Qinwen at Roland Garros.

Tennis • 26 May 22

Kontaveit has now won six titles this year

Kontaveit beats Halep in inaugural Transylvania Open

Anett Kontaveit won the inaugural Transylvania Open with a two-set victory over home favourite Simona Halep.

Tennis • 31 Oct 21

Updated Fernandez adds Kerber scalp to reach US Open quarters

Leylah Fernandez admits she has had to pinch herself after she booked her spot in the US Open quarter-finals by beating Angelique Kerber.

Tennis • 06 Sep 21

Halep outlasts Rybakina in three-set thriller

Simona Halep battled to victory over Elena Rybakina in the third round of the US Open but last year's finalist Victoria Azarenka was beaten by Garbine Muguruza, with 18-year-old Leylah Fernandez also sensationally beating Naomi Osaka.

Tennis • 04 Sep 21

Calf injury rules Halep out of Olympics

World number three Simona Halep has become the latest big-name tennis star to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics after the Romanian said she would not recover from a calf injury in time.

Tennis • 29 Jun 21

Simona Halep beat Serena Williams in the 2019 final

Defending champion Halep withdraws from Wimbledon

Defending champion Simona Halep has pulled out of Wimbledon with a calf injury.

Tennis • 25 Jun 21

Simona Halep marches into last 16 Down Under

Second seed Simon Halep eased past Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-1 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open for the fourth straight year.

Tennis • 12 Feb 21

Ashleigh Barty was beaten by Simona Halep in an exhibition game in Adelaide

Barty among players back in action ahead of Aus Open

Tennis' biggest names were back in action in Adelaide on Friday, with world number one Ashleigh Barty making her first public appearance on court for nearly a year.

Tennis • 29 Jan 21

Stars to quarantine in Adelaide before Australian Open

Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal will be among top men and women players heading to Adelaide to serve their 14-day mandatory quarantine before travelling to Melbourne for next month's Australian Open.

Tennis • 08 Jan 21

Former world no.1 Simona Halep has tested positive for coronavirus

Halep tests positive for Covid-19 but 'feels good'

Simona Halep has tested positive for Covid-19 but the former women's tennis world number one said on Saturday she was "recovering well and feels good".

Tennis • 31 Oct 20

Iga Swiatek is a former Wimbledon junior champion

Top seed Halep thrashed by Polish teenager

Teenager Iga Swiatek produced a stunning performance to knock out top seed and title favourite Simona Halep in the fourth round of the French Open.

Tennis • 04 Oct 20

Simona Halep is into the last 16 at Roland Garos

Halep punishes Anisimova to reach last 16 in Paris

Top seed Simona Halep extracted brutal revenge on American teenager Amanda Anisimova with a 6-0 6-1 victory to move ominously into the fourth round of the French Open.

Tennis • 02 Oct 20

Kiki Bertens is taken off the court in a wheel chair

Bertens wheeled off court & accused of faking injury

Kiki Bertens left the court in a wheelchair after scraping into the third round of the French Open and was then accused of faking injury by opponent Sara Errani.

Tennis • 30 Sep 20

Serena Williams won her sixth and most recent US Open title in 2014

Serena Williams confirms she will play US Open

Serena Williams has announced her intention to take part in this year's US Open, while the ATP and WTA Tours have revealed revised schedules and plan to start again on separate dates in August.

Tennis • 17 Jun 20