Simona Halep is having a rather peculiar 2022. The former world number 1 was ready to retire from professional tennis earlier in the year when she thought that she had no energy anymore to become again a top-10 player.
Eventually, she decided to partner with former Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou to finally found her way in the top 10 once again. Simona has now decided to have nose surgery to improve her breathing and aesthetics. Simona is having a tough period since, according to multiple reports, she is about to divorce her billionaire husband Toni Iuruc.
In the meantime, Simona posted this very long message on Instagram stating that her 2022 is over.
“I would like to inform you about my current situation, reflect on what happened this year and as I always did, share with you my deep feelings.
As you all know already because I’ve talked about it many times, in February, I was very close to stop tennis because I didn’t believe I have enough power to come back to top 10. I was going through many anxious moments and I thought it is time to stop cause it is emotionally unhealthy.
Then I was lucky to discover Patrick’s Academy where I felt so much passion that it gave me back my passion for tennis. Thanks to Patrick, I slowly started to believe that I still can play a good level of tennis. I was totally open to everything he told me to do, the way I should do it and the amount of work that I should do. I did everything fully.
My goal was very clear: I gave myself one year to get back to top 10.
When I decide something, I always go full, and I trusted Patrick 100%, so I wanted his people and only his people to be in charge of me. That is why I made many changes in my Team. Because I felt it was the right thing to do: go fully into that project.
It was a very tough period because I always put pressure on myself and having the best coach next to me it felt even more pressure to win and do well.
This ended up with the panic attack during my match in Paris. I felt Roland Garros was the moment that I have to play great because of all the work I’ve done. I couldn’t handle the pressure and I broke down.
Then I talked to Patrick and told him that I need to relax because I can’t play with the pressure I put on myself and asked him to be patient with me for the next 6 months.
No expectations. He listened to me, agreed and he supported me 100%.
After that I could play one of my best tennis. And faster than I ever expected, in only 2 months, I was back to top 10. Goal achieved!
But then, when I lost at the US Open, I realized that I’m completely exhausted mentally. Having problems with my breathing for many years already and becoming worse with the time, I decided to follow the advice of my doctors and do the needed surgery.
I could never do it earlier because I never found the necessary three months for the recovery, because tennis was always the first priority in my life. But I felt it’s the right time to do it and also to do something for myself as a person. That is why I did also the aesthetic part, that I wanted to do for a long time as I did not like my nose at all.
So I did it, I solved the functional part and the esthetic part. I know many of you can understand me.
I don’t know how long the recovery will take, for the moment I am not thinking about anything but recovery. What is sure, is that this year I won’t be able to compete in any official tournament anymore.
My 2022 season is over. 2022, you have been an interesting year full of everything! See you on court, 2023!!
I feel I still have a lot to do on a tennis court and still have some goals.”
Simona Halep in 2022
Now the world no.9, Halep played her last match on the 29th of August when she was defeated by world no.108 Daria Snigur 6-2 0-6 6-4 in the 1st round of the U.S. Open (draw).
This season Simona owns a compiled 39-11 record. The Romanian has won 2 titles in 2022 in Melbourne and in Toronto.