Romania’s Simona Halep is set to return to the court to feature in an exhibition event. The 33-year-old, who was once regarded as the best player in women’s tennis in the singles category, has retired from professional tennis earlier this year.
As per the latest report, Halep is set to return for an exhibition event later this year. According to GSP.ro, she confirmed the development by stating: “I will go to Iasi. It’s the only exhibition match planned this year. I don’t know what it will be. I will gladly honor all the invitations I receive and we will see,” she said.
Halep finished her career with two major titles to her name. She first lifted the French Open title in 2018 after beating America’s Sloane Stephens in the final with a score of 3–6, 6–4, 6–1. One year later in 2019, she lifted the Wimbledon title after beating the former world number one America’s Serena Williams in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2.
A doping controversy marred the later stage of Halep’s career. She tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat at the 2022 US Open. She was subsequently banned for four years. Halep appealed against the verdict before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). That ban was reduced to nine months, and she returned to the court in 2024. Her return did not turn out to be a great one as she struggled to compete at the highest level. Earlier this year, she was given a wildcard entry into the Australian Open qualifying round but decided to withdraw because of knee and shoulder pain. Her last outing was at the Transylvania Open, where she lost to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-1. After that encounter, she announced her retirement from professional tennis.
View this post on Instagram
More must-reads:
The WTA Washington Citi Open semifinals are set, featuring a strong lineup with all four players having a good chance to win the title. #3 seed Elena Rybakina is the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw and will face Leylah Fernandez. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for both matches, but who will advance to the finals? WTA Washington Semifinal Predictions Emma Raducanu vs Anna Kalinskaya Head-to-Head: first meeting Emma Raducanu came back from 2-5 down in the second set to beat Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals. She seemed to be struggling in the heat and did well to close out in straight sets. This is her first semifinal of the season, and she looks confident of reaching the final. Anna Kalinskaya would be a tough challenge, especially the way she has played this week, but Raducanu has navigated a tougher draw and will be ready for Kalinskaya’s level. I am backing the Brit to win this in three sets. Prediction: Raducanu in 3 Elena Rybakina vs Leylah Fernandez Head-to-Head: Rybakina 1-1 Fernandez Elena Rybakina played a great match in the quarterfinals to defeat Magdalena Frech in straight sets. She took more risks and hit a lot of down-the-line shots on both wings and kept Frech guessing. This is her first semifinal in over two months, and she will be looking to advance to her first final of the season on hard courts. Leylah Fernandez backed her brilliant win over Emma Navarro with another solid performance against the in-form Taylor Townsend. It was a rollercoaster match, and Fernandez did well to close it out in straight sets. It’s her first rour-level semifinal of the season, and she must be thrilled with her uptick in form. Fernandez saved a match point to defeat Rybakina in their last meeting and will have to play her absolute best to get a victory again. I expect a great battle, but going with Rybakina. Prediction: Rybakina in 3
There is not a bigger sporting event in North America than the Super Bowl, and tickets are only getting more expensive every year. There is also a ridiculous secondary market for tickets where seats sell for well above the original face value. It is usually fans or ticket resellers going for a quick profit. But as was reported on Friday, sometimes it can be players in the NFL looking to make a profit. According to multiple reports, including the Associated Press and ESPN, more than 100 players are facing fines and potential suspensions for selling their allotment of tickets to this year's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs for above face value. Players are reportedly facing fines of one-and-a-half times the face value they originally paid for the tickets, while they are also prevented from purchasing tickets to the Super Bowl for the next seasons. The Associated Press obtained a memo from the NFL detailing the violation and investigation. That memo was as follows: “Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy. This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of ‘bundlers’ who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.” If players are not willing to pay the fine, they could be facing suspension from the league. It seems unlikely that any of the players — none of whom have been named, or their teams — would refuse to pay such a fine. It's also one of those moments where you can say, professional athletes — they're still normal people trying to make a quick buck. The most logical answer here is perhaps some of the players caught up in this are younger players who have not yet struck it rich on a big contract or perhaps even practice squad players who are not making top dollar.
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
The Boston Bruins are gauging trade interest in forward Pavel Zacha, according to The Fourth Period. Following a down season and a trade deadline where Zacha’s name was thrown around but was ultimately not moved, Bruins GM Don Sweeney is trying to move the 27-year-old Czech center. Zacha is playing in the final season of a contract that has a $4.75 million cap hit. Zacha, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in 2022 for Erik Haula, has been a solid pickup for Boston. He posted 21 goals and 57 points in 78 games in 2023-24, though his production dipped slightly to 47 points over a full 82-game slate last season. He can play up and down the lineup and has a strong two-way game. Who Has Shown Interest in a Zacha Trade? Two teams reportedly monitoring Zacha are the Vancouver Canucks and the Utah Hockey Club. Both teams are seeking top-six forward depth and would value Zacha’s steady offensive contributions. The Canucks have been busy all summer, signing and trading players. They have also been linked to Jack Roslovic talks in free agency, meaning they wouldn’t be adding both. Utah has been looking to make a splash this season and work their way up the standings in an attempt to compete for the playoffs. The Bruins would likely demand a notable return, but neither team is looking to send players back. The trade would likely involve a high pick or a mid-tier prospect. Zacha controls part of the process with an eight-team no-trade list. He’s owed just $3.75 million in actual salary each of the next two seasons, further boosting his trade appeal.
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!