Simona Halep to join Martina Hingis in South Africa event aimed at fighting gender-based violence

Simona Halep will continue her comeback from surgery when she appears at an exhibition event in South Africa in December.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Halep will join Swiss star Martina Hingis at the Africa Cares Tennis Challenge in Johannesburg.

The Romanian announced in September that her tennis year was over after she underwent nose surgery to correct problems she was having with breathing on court.

She also revealed she was ‘mentally exhausted’ from battling her way back into the WTA Top 10 in 2022 following a previous injury had seen her miss a lot of tennis, including being unable to defend her 2019 Wimbledon win.

At the time of her surgery, Halep told her social media accounts: “What is sure, is that this year I won't be able to compete in any official tournament anymore. My 2022 season is over. 2022, you have been an interesting year full of everything! See you on court, 2023!! I feel I still have a lot to do on a tennis court and still have some goals.”

However, Halep will now join five-time Grand Slam singles champion Hingis in a challenge event with the aim of not only promoting South African tennis, but highlighting the fight against gender-based violence in the country.

The two-day tournament will take place on December 3-4 and feature both international stars such as Halep and Hingis and local tennis players.

And Halep expressed her gratitude at being a part of the unique event.

She said: “As a tennis player I have been inspired by many and am always pushing to the highest level, so it is definitely an honour to encourage the same through this event, while giving awareness towards the issues of Gender-Based Violence.”

Tendai Rukwava, CEO of TR Brand Communications & Events, said: “Women in South Africa are five times more likely to be killed as a result of gender-based violence. As a protest and plea to stop GBV in South Africa we saw it fit to host the Africa Cares Tennis Challenge.”

Halep is also on the entry list for the upcoming World Tennis League in Dubai, joining the likes of Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Nick Kyrgios as she looks to regain match sharpness for 2023.