Synopsis
Simona Halep, the former World No. 1 tennis player from Romania, announced her retirement after a disappointing performance at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, where she lost to Lucia Bronzetti. Halep expressed a mix of emotions as she bid farewell to her professional career.Key Takeaways
- Simona Halep announced her retirement from professional tennis.
- She suffered a significant loss at the Transylvania Open.
- Halep expressed feelings of both sadness and joy during her announcement.
- She achieved numerous accolades, including Grand Slam titles and the World No. 1 ranking.
- Halep faced challenges returning to competitive tennis due to injuries and a doping ban.
Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Feb 5 (NationPress) Former World No.1 Simona Halep has officially announced her retirement after her return to the court ended abruptly in the first round at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca on Tuesday, where she faced Italy's Lucia Bronzetti.
Halep began her season late in her home tournament, the Transylvania Open, receiving a wildcard entry. However, the two-time Grand Slam singles champion suffered a decisive loss of 6-1, 6-1 against Bronzetti.
"It’s a bit hard for me to speak,” stated Simona Halep as she addressed the audience on the purple court at the Transylvania Open, in front of a packed crowd.
"I feel both sadness and joy—these emotions are overwhelming me right now. But I make this decision with a clear mind. My body can no longer handle the demands necessary to reach my previous level.
"It’s too challenging to regain that form, and I understand the effort it requires. That’s why I came to Cluj, to play before you and say farewell. Even though today’s performance wasn’t my best, I am truly grateful you showed up," she added.
"I reached World No. 1, claimed Grand Slam titles, and achieved everything I aspired to. Life continues beyond tennis, and I hope to see you all frequently. I will still play tennis, but being competitive at the highest level demands much more, and at this moment, that's no longer feasible for me," Halep shared.
Halep, who was handed a four-year doping ban that was later reduced to nine months due to a contaminated supplement, last competed in October in Hong Kong. Her comeback season for 2024 was limited to just four tournaments due to a knee injury. This week’s event in Romania marked only her fifth tournament since returning to the WTA Tour after her doping ban.
Halep clinched her first major title at the French Open in 2018, overcoming Sloane Stephens, after having lost her previous three Grand Slam finals. She followed this with a victory at Wimbledon in 2019, committing a mere three unforced errors during a remarkable final against Serena Williams.
In addition to her Grand Slam titles, she secured 22 other WTA Tour titles and held the world number one position for 64 weeks.
