Halep announces retirement after home defeat in Cluj
BUCHAREST: Former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has announced her retirement from professional tennis. The 33-year-old Romanian made the emotional decision following a 6-1, 6-1 defeat to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti at the BT Arena in Cluj, marking her first match of 2025.
Halep, who had delayed her season due to knee and shoulder pain, expressed mixed emotions about her retirement. “I don’t know if it’s with sadness or joy, I think I feel both, but I make this decision with my soul at peace,” Halep told the crowd. “My body cannot take as much so as to get back where I once was.”
A beloved figure in Romanian sports, Halep made history by winning the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019 after enduring heartbreak in three previous Grand Slam finals. Her career, however, faced setbacks in recent years, including a doping ban that was reduced on appeal.
Reflecting on her journey, Halep said she chose to compete in Cluj to say farewell on the court in front of her home crowd. Her contributions to tennis and her legacy as a fierce competitor will be remembered by fans around the world.
