Ashleigh Barty shows empathy for Simona Halep amid Romanian's doping ban

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Ashleigh Barty reveals she has been checking on Simona Halep and noted she would like the Romanian to get a chance to tell her side of the story following a doping ban. In October, the ITIA announced that Halep was being provisionally suspended after testing positive for anti-anaemia drug Roxadustat.

Ever since the ITIA announcement, Halep has been insisting that she is clean and that she would never intentionally take a prohibited substance. Halep was supposed to have a hearing in February but it was delayed several times as the former world No 1 remains suspended.

Barty recognizes that Halep is going through an extremely tough period so she occasionally texts the Romanian.

Barty on Halep: I want to see her back

“I love Simo and I respect Simo. I’ve spoken to her a little bit over the last 12 months or so, just checking in to see how she is going.

She is an exceptional person. I really sincerely hope that she has an opportunity to have her say and to explain her side, because there are always two sides to every story. I think you’d be struggling to find anyone who wouldn’t want to see her back out there doing what she absolutely loves, which is competing on a big stage against the best in the world," Barty told The Guardian.

Meanwhile, it has been 14 months since Barty announced a shock retirement from tennis at the age of 25. Barty does not miss the training and effort required to be at the top but she is missing some other things. “Probably what I miss the most is the thrill of the fight with Tyzz (her coach Craig Tyzzer), sitting down together and working out a way to completely unravel our opponent.

That’s what I loved the most, the tactical side of the game and being able to make your opponent feel very uncomfortable and do that with my skills and my weapons. I do miss spending time with all of my team. But our relationship hasn’t changed.

The contact is just not as frequent and not as high octane, I will say. But the team footy tipping account is still alive and well, so the banter is still flying," Barty said.