simona halep news
Simona Halep, former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion, has officially announced her retirement from professional tennis. The 33-year-old Romanian athlete made this decision after suffering a tough 6-1, 6-1 loss to Italy's Lucia Bronzetti at the 2025 Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca. Halep’s career has been filled with remarkable achievements, including her victories at the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. She also spent 64 consecutive weeks as the world number one player, a testament to her exceptional skill and consistency.

However, Halep’s career faced a major setback in 2022 when she was handed a four-year ban for testing positive for the banned substance roxadustat. The Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced her ban to nine months, allowing her to return to competitive tennis in March 2024. Despite this, Halep struggled with persistent injuries, including knee and shoulder issues, which hampered her performance on the court.

Reflecting on her journey, Halep expressed deep gratitude for the support of her fans and her accomplishments. She acknowledged that her body could no longer handle the demands of elite tennis, marking the end of an era for Romanian tennis. Her retirement leaves a lasting legacy of resilience and excellence.