Former world No.1 Simona Halep announces retirement
text_fields
Simona Halep waves farewell after her final match at the Transylvania Open, Cluj-Napoca, February 4. | Photo: Reuters
Romania: Former World No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has announced her retirement from professional tennis after her return at the Transylvania Open ended in a first-round defeat to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti.
Halep, who was given a wildcard entry into her home tournament, saw her comeback cut short as she suffered a 6-1, 6-1 loss in Cluj-Napoca on Tuesday. Following the match, the Romanian tennis star addressed the crowd with an emotional farewell.
“It’s a bit hard for me to speak,” Halep said, standing on the purple court before packed stands. “I feel both sadness and joy—both emotions are running through me right now. But I take this decision with peace of mind. My body can no longer endure what it takes to reach the level I once was at.
“It’s too difficult to get back there, and I know what kind of effort that requires. That’s why I came here to Cluj—to play in front of you and to say goodbye. Even though today’s performance wasn’t my best, I am so happy you came," she continued.
Reflecting on her career, Halep expressed gratitude for her achievements: “I reached World No. 1, I won Grand Slam titles, I achieved everything I ever wanted. Life goes on after tennis, and I hope we will see each other as often as possible. I will still play tennis, but to be competitive at the highest level takes so much more, and at this moment, it’s no longer possible for me.”
Halep’s career had recently been marred by a doping ban. Initially handed a four-year suspension, her ban was later reduced to nine months due to a contaminated supplement. She returned to the WTA Tour in 2024 but played in only four tournaments before this week's event in Romania, which marked her fifth since her comeback. A knee injury further limited her season.
The 32-year-old Romanian first rose to prominence by winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2018 French Open, where she defeated Sloane Stephens after falling short in her first three major finals. A year later, she claimed the Wimbledon title in emphatic fashion, committing just three unforced errors in a dominant final victory over Serena Williams.
Halep spent a total of 64 weeks as the world’s top-ranked player and secured 22 other WTA Tour titles over her illustrious career.
With IANS inputs