Simona Halep announces retirement

Simona Halep announces retirement

After a narrow defeat against Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 6-1 in her home tournament in Cluj-Napoca, Simona Halep has announced her retirement from’competitive activities due to continuing knee problems.

“These days I have often thought about what my future would be,” Halep said. “Tonight I don’t know whether è with sadness or with joy, or with both of these feelings. I felt I had to make this decision also because I have always been honest with myself and with my physique, which is not going to go back to what it was. È it is difficult to be here with what it means. That is why I decided to come here to Cluj and play in front of you”.

“Simona è a great champion – Bronzetti answered immediately afterwards . I tried to enjoy the atmosphere even though the cheering was obviously all for her playing at home. I tried to play every point, be very solid and stay focused on the’goal without thinking about who I was facing”.

33 years old, born in Constanta, Simona Halep has had a career of great ups and downs. She È was world No. 1 the first time on Oct. 9, 10’and the last time on Jan. 14, 2019, and has won two Grand Slam tournaments, Roland Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019, but she has also lost three finals, two of them resounding, especially the one with Jelena Ostapenko in Paris in 2017.

Her tournaments won on the WTA major circuit totaled 24, with 18 finals lost. Then the doping disqualification, initially of four years, later reduced to nine months. Now, in her home tournament, the epilogue of her career, three months after playing what until now had been her last match.