Chris Evert reacts to bold 2023 prediction about Simona Halep

Chris Evert is feeling the absence of Simona Halep and she recently made a candid admission about it on social media.

At last year’s US Open, Simona Halep tested positive for a banned substance called Roxadustat. In October 2022, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) slapped the former World No. 1 with a provisional suspension pending a trial.

Following the shocking reveal, many fans players came to Halep's defense and expressed their trust in the two-time Grand Slam champion.

As the tennis world enters the clay season - and the sixth month without Simona Halep - many are hoping there will be a positive outcome in the doping trial soon. Some fans have even made predictions on social media about the Romanian's competitive return.

One fan dropped a bold clay season prediction, stating that Halep would return in time for the 2023 French Open (May 28-June 11) and claim her second title at the event. American tennis legend Chris Evert responded to the tweet by confessing that she misses watching Halep in action.

“I miss her!” Chris Evert wrote, accompanied by a teary-eyed emoji.

This isn’t the first time Chris Evert has revealed her soft spot for Simona Halep. In January 2023, the 18-time Slam champion dedicated a heartfelt message to the former World No. 1, expressing hope for her well-being during the suspension.

“Thinking about @Simona_Halep hope she’s doing well… I hope this gets resolved soon…” Chris Evert wrote.

In another instance from early 2022, Evert expressed support for everything Halep said and did after announcing that she had sacked her touring team.

“I support anything @Simona_Halep says or does!” she said.

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A brief look at Simona Halep's 2022 season as rumors of 2023 clay return intensify

The hopeful tennis fan’s prediction about Simona Halep’s French Open return could well come true if the athlete’s latest hints are anything to go by.

While there is no verdict on Halep’s suspension just yet, Halep posted a delightful update for her fans on March 17. The Romanian hinted in her social media post that she had started training on clay.

Halep has been out of action since her shock loss in the opening round of the 2022 US Open. The player, however, enjoyed decent success throughout last year.

Halep added two titles to her collection in 2022 – at the Melbourne Summer Set 1 and the WTA 1000 Canadian Open. The 2019 Wimbledon champion also made the semifinals at SW19, bowing out against eventual champion Elena Rybakina.

During the 2022 season, the Romanian also made significant changes to her team, ending her partnership with coaches Daniel Dobre and Adrian Marcu. She later hired Serena Williams’ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who temporarily trained Holger Rune after her ban was announced.

The French coach has now ended his stint with Rune, further fueling rumors among fans of Halep’s impending return.