The day after Simona Halep announced her retirement, we spoke with Patrick Ciorcilă, the director of the Transylvania Open, about the significance of this moment, the legacy Simona leaves behind, and the importance of this fifth edition of the Transylvania Open, an edition that will remain in history.
Patrick, how did you feel about Simona’s announcement yesterday?
With great emotion. Even though I knew what was coming, I still compared myself to those who didn’t and what they must have felt. Even knowing and preparing myself mentally and emotionally for this moment, I still couldn’t hold back my emotions. It was a very profound moment. I couldn’t believe she was saying those words, and I think she couldn’t fully articulate them either, which is why there was some confusion. People kept asking, “Is she retiring? Was this her last match in Cluj? Was this her last match ever?” But I believe she is certain, and she has made peace with the fact that this was her final match. And I think she wanted it to happen in Romania, at home, so I’m happy about this.
Did she tell you in advance that she wanted to make this announcement here?
Yes, we had this discussion in Dubai when we met after Christmas. As soon as we sat down to chat casually, within the first ten seconds, she said: just so you know, I’m retiring. At first, I panicked, thinking she meant from the tournament. But then I realized she was talking about her entire career. That was a huge shock for me.
Do you remember what went through your mind at that moment?
In a way, I think I expected it. Talking to her a lot recently and knowing what she went through in the last two years, I think it was a major trauma for her. I think she even associated tennis with the trauma she experienced—because it was trauma, there’s no other way to put it. Additionally, there were the health issues. Surely, it was a combination of factors. If she had been in peak physical shape and still eager to train daily, maybe she would have pushed through. But when you’re not physically at your best and you know what it takes to be at the top…
Yesterday on the court, she didn’t play badly, but she couldn’t close out points. The level in women’s tennis is so high now, and players are so well-prepared physically that you can’t keep up unless you’re fully trained. On top of that, the whole situation with Swiatek and Sinner must have shaken her up, realizing that she wasn’t treated fairly and that she was suspended for nine months longer than necessary, with no one giving you anything back. That must have weighed heavily on her. So I expected that she wouldn’t have the motivation to return.
And in the end, I think this was the best decision for her, to step away from tennis in such a beautiful way. She has achieved everything. What more could a Romanian player want? I don’t think that anyone would have given her a chance, when she was little, to accomplish what she did. Even though we knew the match would be tough and that there was a high chance she wouldn’t make it to the second round, especially against a player like Bronzetti, I loved that she didn’t care about the score. She kept smiling on the court, radiating good energy, and the crowd felt it. People didn’t care about the result, you know? They were just happy she was there. I looked around the stands, and everyone was taking photos, regardless of the score. It was a celebration.
I messaged her before the match and she was telling me she was overwhelmed. It was so endearing to see a champion who has achieved so much experiencing the same emotions as any of us in our daily lives. I told her: please just enjoy the match and have fun. Smile on the court and be yourself because, in the end, this is a celebration of everything you’ve done. And that’s exactly what it was—a celebration of her entire career.
Were you prepared for something more?
We had planned for more, yes, but together with Simona, we decided to keep it simple. We knew the moment would be so emotionally charged that nothing else was needed. Just her being there and delivering her message on the court was enough. We had agreed beforehand that, no matter what happened, we would stay on the court, and she would speak to the audience. In the end, I think it played out exactly as she wanted.
Is it important to you that her retirement took place here, marking this as a historic venue?
Absolutely. First of all, the fact that the news went global and every media outlet reported that she retired here—that alone means a lot for the tournament, for Romania, and her. She did it on her terms, and that mattered immensely. For the tournament, I won’t lie, it’s a huge deal. I messaged her last night to thank her from the bottom of my heart. I know she did this for us as well because we are friends. Otherwise, she might not have come, knowing she wasn’t in top form. But she came, and that meant a lot. This is a big win for us as a tournament, and it will go down in history.
How do you see her impact and legacy in tennis?
I was just discussing this with the WTA. For a country like Romania, which doesn’t have the tennis expectations of France or the U.S., an athlete of her caliber leaves an everlasting mark. The number of kids who took up tennis because of her, the popularity of the sport, not just tennis but sports in general, has skyrocketed. Her legacy is incredible.
Beyond that, she elevated Romania’s image. Playing in arenas all over the world, she made us believe that success is possible for us too. Watching her never give up in decisive tiebreaks, fighting until the very end—it’s incredibly important for our country’s morale. People lived through her victories, finding joy in them despite their daily struggles. Even the WTA officials said she’s like Djokovic in Serbia. And I told them, yes, that’s exactly what she is, her impact is unique.
This edition of the tournament had many Romanian players. It feels like the end of an era.
Yes, and I don’t think this will ever happen again, which is why we’re making the most of this year. Sorana might also be playing her last tournament in Romania. She had an incredible career, and I’m so happy she came, it was entirely her initiative, she called us. I didn’t even ask, knowing she lives in Dubai and had the Abu Dhabi tournament right next door, I didn’t think she would come. So I was very happy that she made this choice.
Irina is also reaching the end (of her career), along with Simona, Sorana, and let’s not forget Monica, who had an outstanding career. It’s a passing of the torch, but I don’t know what Irina’s plans are or how long she will play. Now it’s up to Jacqueline, Gabi, Anca, and Ana, who still have some time left to play. I see Ana as the leader for now, but I also believe in Gabi and Jacqueline. And I have very high hopes for Anca—I think she has Top 20 potential.
And your tournament is part of their impact on tennis, right?
Yes, if it weren’t for them, this tournament wouldn’t be happening, let’s be real. We had no intention of organizing a tournament if we didn’t see potential and interest around tennis because you need spectators, you need partners, you need an audience, you need them. That’s why I say they are much more important than any foreign player. That’s also why we chose women’s tennis over men’s tennis. Unfortunately, on the men’s side, we’re not at the same level right now but this year, with Mr. Țiriac’s involvement, there are many small tournaments in Romania, Futures, Challengers and I believe this will pay off in a few years. More players will emerge because those who came before, Pavel, Hănescu, Tecău, all benefited from a period with many tournaments in Romania, where costs were lower. So, this will help Romanian players in the long run.
What do you think comes next for you? Will it be harder after them?
It’s very difficult to match the impact that Simona had, but we’ve already had editions without Sorana and Simona. We had Ana, Gabi, and Jacqueline. Anca wasn’t there yet, and now we have Anca, who, I repeat, has immense potential. And I truly feel sorry that we couldn’t give her a main draw wildcard, which she deserved.
But I think the tournament has become a trademark event for tennis fans across Romania because we have so many people coming from Bucharest and other cities. I believe we’ll do well because, year after year, our notoriety grows. People have started—and this is what we aimed for—to come to the tournament regardless of who’s playing, without waiting for the entry list to decide. And even though this year’s tournament is incredibly strong, having the last direct acceptance ranked No. 83 WTA and almost no withdrawals (except for two at the very end, for legitimate reasons), this shows the tournament has gained popularity. Players talk to each other and say we offer good conditions, and I believe we’ll continue to grow.
Of course, we need them a lot, I won’t lie and say we don’t need Gabi’s and Jacqueline’s performances. Even for this edition, I’m relying a lot on Ana and Jacqueline, as well as Irina and Sorana in doubles, because having a Romanian finalist makes a difference.
What makes you the happiest about what you’ve achieved in these five editions?
I’m happy that we showcase extraordinary quality, in my opinion, at the tournament. From the way the event looks to how we treat the players and the facilities we offer. I believe we are a great example of best practices within the WTA circuit. I’ve attended many tournaments to observe how things work, including WTA 500 events, and I don’t think we’re behind in any way. On the contrary, I believe we’re at the right level to organize a WTA 500 tournament anytime.
And would that be possible?
Not today, no. But on the long term, I believe we’ll make it happen. That’s my perspective, we won’t give up until it happens. However, I don’t think it will be in the next 2-3 years. And I’m not even sure it would be a smart decision to upgrade right now, even if we could, because it would be much harder for Romanian players to reach the latter stages of a WTA 500 event. We prefer to support and protect them by maintaining their presence in the tournament. A well-organized, high-quality WTA 250 event is perfectly fine for now. Linz was a WTA 250 tournament for 20 years before moving up to 500. So, we should grow gradually—I wouldn’t rush.
What are some of the most memorable moments from these five years?
Oh, there have been so many! Of course, the moment with Simona will always remain the most important and emotional. I even told her that this was the most emotional moment I’ve ever experienced in organizing an event, whether it was a tournament or Sports Festival, nothing compares to this. But there were also many incredible matches: the three-and-a-half-hour battle between Ana and Arantxa Rus—what a match that was! And many others: the all-Romanian semifinal between Jacqueline and Gabi, we’ve had two Romanian finalists in consecutive years, that was a big deal for us. I truly hope that soon, we’ll have a Romanian champion, why not this year? That would be sensational!
On the long term, what is your biggest dream?
Every year, we aim to win the award for the best WTA 250 tournament, especially since we’ve already won it twice. It matters a lot, it’s prestigious to win such an award, particularly because it’s voted by the players, that’s the most important thing. They know best, they travel week after week, and for them to say we’re the best? That means a lot, here, in Cluj, in Romania.
My dream is to have full stands every single day. That would mean we’ve significantly grown the tennis culture here. Compared to the first and second years, we’ve grown immensely—back then, in the first days, the stands were empty because people weren’t used to it. Now, in February, when the tournament happens, I want people to think: “I’m not going skiing, I’m not going on vacation, I’m planning around the tournament, not the other way around.” If you love tennis, you should want to be at the Transylvania Open. That’s the idea.
And I’m happy that more and more people are investing in tennis in Romania, at least since we started. The Bucharest tournament came back, Iași has its tournament, and now, in Târgu Mureș, some great people want to invest in tennis. Slowly but surely, many cities, Slobozia and others, are investing. But without a doubt, the Transylvania Open has made a difference and continues to do so. People come here, watch, aspire to what’s happening here and that helps Romanian tennis a lot.
What have you learned as a team? You’ve been doing this for a long time—it’s the same core team, but you’ve grown a lot.
Yes, we have a core team, but we’ve also faced many challenges in managing this growth and success. Every year, we have to raise the quality, increase our staff, and even with Sports Festival, we want to keep aiming higher. These bring many challenges related to the team, but we have to manage them. The important thing is that we all share the same goal. Everyone has a great character, and we work well together. That’s the most important thing.
We’ve developed a lot, we are very different from where we were seven or eight years ago. Both personally and as a team. When I started, I was 21, now I’m 28. That’s a significant difference. We see things differently and handle them more maturely. That’s the key, because without a strong team, you can’t achieve something like this. And we’ve proven that our greatest strength is the team. It’s a key factor we must never lose.
When you started, did you imagine reaching this point?
When we started, no. We just wanted to create a sports festival, it was a crazy idea. If someone had told me 7-8 years ago that we’d organize five editions of Sports Festival, bring Barcelona and Agassi, then start a tournament and be hosting our sixth WTA event, I would have never believed it. But here we are. If you try, if you’re passionate, and if you put in the energy, sometimes, things work out.
