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On Tuesday, February 4, two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep announced retirement from professional tennis. The decision from the Romanian international came after her first-round loss at the Transylvania Open in Cluj. The 33-year-old called it quits after she lost to Lucia Bronzetti in straight sets at her home country tournament.
It is to be noted that Halep returned to tennis last year following an 18-month ban after finding guilty for doping violations. Romania’s former World No. 1 was handed four-year ban by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on September 12 after she had tested positive for a banned substance in blood-booster roxadustat at the US Open. However, after she appealed in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), she was cleared in March 2024.
Simona Halep retires from professional tennis, aged 33
Speaking after her first-round defeat against her Italian opponent, Halep said, "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, and I've always been realistic with myself. My body can no longer handle as much as it used to, to get me where I probably once was."
"It's very hard to reach that level, and I know what it takes to get there. That's why I wanted to be here today, in Cluj, to play in front of you and say goodbye on the tennis court, even if my performance wasn't great," she added. Notably, it was Halep’s first match of the year and 870 th in her entire career. She was handed a wildcard invitation to play in Romania.
"To be competitive again requires much more, and at this moment, it's no longer possible. 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 added.
Watch video of Simona Halep announce her retirement:
Halep had pulled out of qualifying of the Australian Open and the tune-up tournament in Auckland last month due to pain in her knee and shoulder. However, she ends her career winning two tennis majors, Wimbledon 2019 and French Open 2018. She also ended an three-time runners-up at Grand Slam tournaments, including Australian Open 2018 and French Open in 2014 and 2017. Her last appearance in a tennis major came at the 2022 U.S. Open where she lost to Ukraine’s Daria Snigur 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 in the first round.
