Former world No.1 and two-time major winner Simona Halep returned to competitive action to topple an Australian in Hong Kong after a 140-day hiatus.
The Romanian defeated Australia's Arina Rodionova 6-2 4-6 6-4 which seals her place in the round of 16.
"Words cannot describe the feeling of being out there on court and competing - and winning my first match after such a long period - in the sport I love. Thank you for all your support and your love, it means the world to me," said Halep on X.
Halep had not competed on the WTA tour since May when she was forced to retire midway through the second set against McCartney Kessler at a 125K event in Paris.
She has since recovered from a knee injury which hampered her 2024 season.
The 33-year-old returned to the scene at the Miami Open earlier this year after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced her controversial doping ban from four years to nine months.
After the 2022 US Open, Halep discovered that she had tested positive twice for Roxadustat, a drug that can build endurance by stimulating the production of red blood cells.
She faces seventh seed Anna Blinkova for a place in the Hong Kong quarter-finals.
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