Simona Halep's former coach, Darren Cahill, deems her ban overturning the highlight of the year despite his win with Jannik Sinner at the 2024 Australian Open.
Before he started coaching Sinner, Cahill spent a lot of time with Halep on the WTA Tour. They had some amazing moments together, and ever since her doping ban first came out, Cahill vehemently supported the Romanian.
He dismissed any indication that she took any banned substance on purpose, and he was overjoyed when her doping ban was overturned. We're only days away from her official return to tennis as she'll make a comeback in Miami, and Cahill will be there watching it happen.
For him, the moment when her ban was overturned was actually the highlight of his year, which is interesting because his player, Jannik Sinner, just recently won his maiden Grand Slam in Melbourne.
"For me, it was the highlight of the year [Simona Halep’s doping ban being overturned], and I’ve had a really good year so far this year with everything Jannik [Sinner] has done. But it’s been 18 months of torture for her."
Talking to the Sky Sports, Cahill also reaffirmed his full belief in her honesty, which he repeated numerous times as she tried to prove her innocence. Now, he was proven right and will certainly enjoy the Romanian back on the tennis court.
"I’ve always believed in her, always known that she would never deliberately or knowingly take anything that was wrong or banned, and that came true, when they went to CAS in Lausanne, and the truth came out."
"So, I know she’s been through a tough moment, a tough period of 18 months and I’m super proud of the way she has handled herself and the way she has carried herself throughout this entire and I could not be happier to see her playing in Miami. I can’t wait to see her this week."