Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has officially announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 33, following a first-round loss at the Transylvania Open in her home country of Romania. The announcement came after a challenging few years marked by injuries and a doping controversy that hindered her comeback.
Halep addressed the audience in Cluj, Romania, after a 6-1, 6-1 defeat to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti. “I don’t know if it’s with sadness or joy—I think I’m feeling both—but my soul is at peace with this decision,” she said. “My body can no longer handle as much as it used to, to get me where I probably once was.”
This match was Halep’s first appearance of 2025 and only her sixth match since March 2024. Despite being given a wildcard to compete, she struggled with knee and shoulder pain, conditions that forced her to withdraw from the Australian Open and other tournaments earlier. Reflecting on her decision, Halep acknowledged that returning to a competitive level was no longer possible, saying, “To be competitive again requires much more, and at this moment, it’s no longer possible.”
Halep reached the pinnacle of women’s tennis in 2017 when she first became the WTA world No. 1. Her career highlights include winning the 2018 French Open by defeating Sloane Stephens and triumphing at Wimbledon in 2019 with a commanding victory over Serena Williams. In addition to her two major titles, she was a finalist at three other Grand Slam tournaments and ended her career with 24 WTA singles titles and over $40 million in prize earnings.
However, Halep’s journey was not without challenges. Her last major tournament was the 2022 US Open, where she lost in the first round to Daria Snigur and later tested positive for Roxadustat, a banned substance that boosts the production of EPO—a hormone known for enhancing stamina. Halep initially received a four-year suspension, which was later reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The tribunal concluded that she bore no significant fault as the positive result was due to a contaminated supplement.
Returning to the sport in 2024, Halep competed in just five matches before the persistent physical and mental toll made it clear that a full comeback was unlikely. “It’s very hard to reach that level, and I know what it takes to get there,” she said.
Despite the setback, Halep emphasized gratitude and closure during her announcement. “I don’t want to cry—this is something beautiful. I reached world No. 1, I won Grand Slams; it’s everything I ever wanted,” she remarked. “Life goes on. There is life after tennis, and I hope we will see each other again.”.
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