The former world No. 1 Simona Halep has announced her retirement from professional tennis. The news came in soon after her straight sets(6-1,6-1) defeat from Lucia Bronzetti in the round of 32 of the Winners Open. The 72nd-seeded Bronzetti already had three match points in hand and she converted her match point when Halep missed a forehand return, ultimately taking the game away from her hands. She was seen hugging Romanian player Sorana Cîrstea after the match as she bid her final goodbyes to the sport.

The 33-year-old Halep struggled to make a comeback after a 19-month-long absence after multiple anti-doping violations. Halep resumed her career last March 2024 after CAS reduced her ban to nine months from four years. She also disclosed injury problems as she was dealing with a cartilage tear in the knee, even though she was pain-free at the moment. After serving the nine-month sentence, she also played in the Miami Open as a wild card but lost to the Australian Open semifinalist Paula Badosa. Her last win was against Ariana Rodionova in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 at Hong Kong 125 Open.

The announcement of Halep’s retirement came as a shock, but she was happy that she made the decision while playing in her homeland. Although she seemed competitive at the age of 33, the chances of capturing her old form back seemed to be diminished for a longer time. The X page Ollytennis was quick to report the announcement of her retirement with a caption saying, “Woah, Simona Halep just announced her *retirement* after losing 6-1 6-1 to Bronzetti at the Transylvania Open.” After announcing her retirement, Simona Halep was seen embracing her father and mother along with her support team. To celebrate the moment with fans she tossed her racquet into the crowd and celebrated the last moments on the court.

Halep recently opened up about her future in an interview with Golazo, hinting that retirement might be on the horizon for her. She shared her heartfelt perspective that “life is more than just training and winning tournaments,” which seemed like a clear sign that she is starting to think beyond her tennis career. She added, “I might not have even dreamed of becoming a world No. 1 or winning two Grand Slam titles, but I worked very hard for it, and such achievements made me feel fulfilled as a tennis player. Now I want to do something more, not just in tennis. The first part of my life was solely based on tennis, but now I want to explore other paths.” while it may be a bittersweet moment to see her step away from tennis, as fans we will be eager to see what new role she takes next.

🚨 Woah, Simona Halep just announced her *retirement* after losing 6-1 6-1 to Bronzetti at the Transylvania Open pic.twitter.com/DHipSmGzVi

Halep’s retirement marks the end of an incredible chapter in tennis history. After a career filled with remarkable achievements that included two Grand Slam titles and a reign as World No. 1, she has finally chosen to take a step back from the sport on her own terms. Her final match may not have ended with victory but it was a fitting farewell in front of the home crowd.

Simona Halep Contemplated Retirement  Amid Injury Woes

Simona Halep’s battle with injuries led her to seriously contemplate her retirement. She was in pain for some time with a lingering Knee issue and an additional shoulder pain. this also kept her out of the 2025 Australian Open. The return from a 19-month break and dealing with the injuries made her return to the form an uphill battle that seemed impossible to climb.

Ahead of the Transylvania Open, Halep admitted that the severity of her knee injury has taken a physical and mental toll on her. “The knee injury I have is quite serious and difficult to recover from. I don’t know if I’m afraid to push myself, but when I feel pain, it’s hard to play at my highest level. It’s very difficult to get back to where I was, especially after such a long break,” Simona Halep said. She recognised that bouncing back from injuries isn’t as easy as it once was, which made retirement a real possibility.

Despite her efforts to return after a lengthy suspension and injury struggles, getting back to her past self proved a challenge foe her. Her recent interview had already hinted at this transition, as she expressed a desire to explore life beyond tennis, Now as she embraces her new journey, fans will undoubtedly support her next endeavors, eager to see what’s in the store for the Romanian star.