Former world number one Simona Halep officially announced her retirement from professional tennis on Tuesday following her first-round exit at the WTA Cluj-Napoca tournament in Romania. The 33-year-old, who claimed 24 WTA titles, including two Grand Slam victories at the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon, ended her career after facing significant challenges in recent years.
Halep, who had been striving to regain her place on the tour after a doping suspension, suffered a 6-1, 6-1 defeat to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in her final professional match. Her attempt to compete in the Australian Open qualifiers last month was also unsuccessful as she withdrew due to knee and shoulder pain.
Having returned to competition in March last year, Halep’s career had been put on hold since October 2022 after testing positive for roxadustat, a banned substance used to treat anemia. Her suspension was further complicated by allegations of irregularities in her biological passport data. Initially handed a four-year ban by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), Halep successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that her positive test resulted from a contaminated supplement.
Despite the difficulties she faced, Halep chose to conclude her career on her own terms. Reflecting on her decision, she stated, “Made this decision in my soul.” Her retirement marks the end of an era for Romanian tennis, as she leaves behind a legacy of resilience, skill, and remarkable achievements on the court.
Simona Halep in 2025
Now the world no.870, Halep played her last match on the 4th of February when she capitulated to world no.72 Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 6-1 in the 1st round in Cluj (draw).
This year Halep has achieved a compiled 0-1 match record.
Simona Halep |
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