Simona Halep, one of the most prominent figures in women's tennis in the last decade, announced her official retirement from professional tennis at the age of 33. The Romanian, a champion of two Grand Slam tournaments, decided to hang up her racket despite her recent difficulties. With 24 singles titles and more than 40 million dollars in prize money, Halep closes a glorious chapter in her career, leaving an indelible legacy in the history of women's tennis.
'I have always been realistic with myself, and my body can no longer give me what it used to for me to continue competing at the highest level,' she expressed, visibly moved in her emotional farewell. She became world number 1 in 2017 and was renowned for her incredible consistency and technical skills. Halep was crowned champion at Wimbledon in 2019 and at Roland Garros in 2018, achieving significant victories throughout her career marked by moments of uncertainty.
In 2022, Simona tested positive in a doping control for the substance Roxadustat, which initially led to a four-year suspension. However, after a successful appeal, the penalty was reduced to just nine months. Following a difficult return to the circuit in 2024, where she participated in only six tournaments, Halep confirmed that her body no longer responded as it did before, preventing her from reaching her previous competitive level.
After a first-round loss at the Transylvania Open in her hometown Cluj, against Lucia Bronzetti by 6-1, 6-1, the news of her retirement was announced. This was Halep's first appearance on the circuit after a series of injuries and a doping suspension that affected her career in recent years. In an emotional speech before the Romanian audience, Halep shared her feelings after making the difficult decision: 'I don’t know if it is with sadness or joy, but my soul is at peace with this decision.'