
A Grand Slam champion himself, a close friend, and later a coach for Romania’s Fed Cup team, Horia Tecău understands better than anyone what Simona Halep is feeling after her retirement announcement. Having retired from professional tennis himself less than three years ago and now actively involved in organizing the Transylvania Open, he is living proof that there is life after the professional circuit.
“I felt something would be announced, but I didn’t know exactly when. I’m glad it happened last night, that it happened here,” Horia said about Simona’s announcement. “I saw her looking so at peace, so free, smiling, happy. It was the perfect setting for a final match on tour and such an announcement. I couldn’t imagine this happening anywhere else.”
“It’s emotional to let go of such a big part of your life, of the passion you’ve nurtured for so many years, of all the hard work that took you to the highest levels. But this isn’t a sudden decision, it’s not shocking. I’m sure it’s a decision she reached over time and I know she made it at the right moment. After seeing her last night, I have no doubt it was the best time for her to retire.”
Reflecting on his retirement, Horia relates to Simona’s sense of relief:
“When I made my retirement announcement and played that last match, I also felt a huge sense of relief. I felt that it was time for something new. I think Simona feels free now too, with no more training, no more recovery sessions, and no more traveling. From now on, she can just wake up and ask herself what she truly wants to do that day. A new chapter begins for her.”
As for Simona’s impact on tennis, Horia is optimistic:
“We will miss her on the court, but she isn’t leaving the sport. Simona will always be with us and with the generations to come. Just like Ilie Năstase and Ion Țiriac played Davis Cup finals and inspired my parents to introduce me to tennis, Simona will inspire new generations of tennis players. Her achievements and the way she accomplished them won’t be forgotten and I’m sure she’ll stay close to the sport because she has so much wisdom to share with young players. She didn’t just inspire female athletes, she inspired all of us, her fellow players, with her determination, her hunger on the court, her intensity. That energy will carry forward into the future.
I don’t know when we will see another Grand Slam champion from Romania, but I hope it will be soon. We have examples all around us of families and projects, of parents that did everything they could to create the best conditions and they succeeded. This can continue. We may not have the same volume of top players as a few years ago, but the method, the way we did it, doesn’t disappear. It can always be replicated. That’s why I believe we will have another Grand Slam winner in the future.”