Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, has announced her retirement from professional tennis.
The Romanian player made the decision public following a heavy 6-1, 6-1 first-round loss to Lucia Bronzetti at the Transylvania Open.
At 33 years old, Halep had already hinted at the possibility of retirement in recent months, primarily due to a knee injury that forced her to withdraw from the Australian
Open qualifying event earlier this year. This loss at the Transylvania Open marked her fifth tournament appearance since returning to the WTA Tour after a nearly two-year-long doping ban.
In an emotional statement to the crowd, Halep reflected on her career, saying, “I’m making this decision with my soul. It’s a beautiful thing. I became world number one, I won Grand Slams, it’s all I wanted. Life goes on, there is life after tennis, and I hope that we will see each other again.”
Though she is retiring from competitive tennis, Halep made it clear that her connection to the sport would remain. “I’ll come to the tennis here as often as I can, and of course, I will continue to play. But to be competitive, it requires much more, and at this moment, it is no longer.”
One of the defining moments of Halep’s career came in 2018, when she claimed her first Grand Slam title at the French Open. She triumphed over Sloane Stephens in the final, finally breaking through after losing three previous major finals.
Halep’s retirement marks the end of an era for one of tennis’s most accomplished players. Her legacy includes not only her Grand Slam titles and time at world number one but also her resilience in the face of adversity.
While she may no longer compete at the highest level, Halep’s contributions to the sport will continue to inspire future generations.
