The end came quietly for Simona Halep at Cluj-Napoca, in front of fans who once watched her lift Grand Slam trophies; she managed just two games against Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti. A 6-1, 6-1 defeat at the Transylvania Open in her first WTA match at home since returning from a doping suspension—became her last.

At 33, the fight was gone. Tributes and opinions will probably follow these high-profile retirements. Former rival Svetlana Kuznetsova gave her tributes and opinion, reflecting on the Romanian’s exit; she couldn’t help but draw a parallel to Maria Sharapova.

Halep has conquered Roland Garros in 2018, overcoming Sloane Stephens. Moreover, she dismantled Serena Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon final. However, in 2022, a failed d— test at the US Open changed everything. After testing positive for Roxadustat, a d— that enhances endurance, officials handed her a four-year ban, later reduced on appeal. Despite the reduced sanction, the 33-year-old never returned fully to the court, ultimately walking away.

“It is very sad to read that Simona was never able to come back and decided to end her sports career,” Kuznetsova wrote on Telegram. “Of course, the doping case unfortunately damaged not only Maria Sharapova’s career but also Simona Halep’s. This is how it is in sports, such beautiful careers do not end on a high note. But nevertheless, Simona will forever remain a legendary athlete, and my congratulations to her.”

Sharapova failed a d— test for Meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open, resulting in a 15-month ban. The former top-ranked player confessed to using the drug for years, not knowing it had just become prohibited. When she returned in 2017, Sharapova found it hard to reclaim her top spots, and health problems, like ongoing shoulder troubles, held her back.

Even though she showed glimpses of her old self, like reaching the quarterfinals at the 2018 French Open, she never returned to her best. Her rankings dropped, and she started losing in big tournaments. In February 2020, Sharapova quit professional tennis, ending a career that included five Grand Slam wins and an Olympic silver medal.

Although Sharapova had a brief comeback, playing three years after the suspensions, for Halep it hadn’t been the case after a comeback last year, ultimately leading her to walk away.

Simona Halep’s struggles after doping ban

Simona Halep’s farewell to professional tennis was not the ending she had envisioned. The former world No. 1, who spent much of 2023 fighting a doping suspension, returned to the sport in 2024, but her comeback never truly materialized and her body, once relentless, betrayed her.

Halep faced challenges in her 2024 campaign. Even after her suspension was reduced, she returned to the Miami Open last year but lost to Paula Badosa. The Romanian played only six games last year. Perhaps the signs were clear. 2025 began similarly, with her withdrawing from the Australian Open qualifying due to ongoing knee and shoulder pain. Now, her final appearance came at Cluz in Romania.

“I’ve always been realistic with myself and with my body,” Halep said after her defeat in the first round. “Where I probably was, it’s very hard to get there, and I know what it means to get there.”

Continuing her thoughts, she said, “That’s why I wanted to come here today in Cluj to play in front of you and say goodbye. Even though my performance wasn’t very good it was still my soul and I’m very glad you came, and I’ll wonder if I’ll come back again. But for now it’s the last time I’ve played here and I don’t want to cry. It’s a beautiful thing. I became world No.1, I won Grand Slams, it’s all I wanted. Life goes on, there is life after tennis and I hope that we will see each other again.

Halep leaves an enduring legacy behind with two Grand Slam titles, over 24 WTA trophies, and plenty of firsts.