Romanian tennis star Sorona Cirstea has called Serena Williams ‘arrogant’ after the 23-time grand slam champion appeared to take a dig at Simona Halep for being handed a four-year ban from tennis for doping.
Last week, Williams posted a cryptic message on social media reading: “8 is a better number”.
It came right after Halep received a four-year ban over two separate anti-doping rule violations. Both charges were upheld at the independent tribunal earlier this month.
Halep has been banned until October 6 2026. The two-time grand slam winner has vowed to appeal the decision.
Many tennis fans believe Williams was referring to her seven Wimbledon titles in the post, which could have been eight if she hadn’t lost to Halep in the 2019 final in two straight sets.
Fellow Romanian Cirstea criticized Williams for the post in the wake of Halep’s news.
The World No.25 labelled Williams as ‘arrogant’ in an interview with Sport Romania.
“Serena as a player was extraordinarily good. As a person, she always had this arrogance. She didn’t accept when someone could beat her or took a title from her,” she said.
“I know Simona. I don’t think she ever consciously doped. This suspension is for an innocent person,” she said. “I was afraid to take anything, I was afraid to take an aspirin. I’m maybe a little paranoid, but it’s no joke. It’s every athlete’s nightmare.”
Halep has been suspended since October 2022 after failing a test for the blood-boosting substance Roxadustat. Halep had her hearing pushed back a number of times, before a second charge was brought against her for irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport.
Halep blamed a contaminated supplement for the traces of the banned drug called Roxadustat. “I am continuing to train and do everything in my power to clear my name of these false allegations and return to the court,” she said in a statement.
