The first Romanian player of her generation to break into the Top 100, a generation that has brought Romanian tennis so many remarkable results over the past decade, Raluca Olaru has been both an inspiration and a motivating force for those who followed in her footsteps. She was also among the first to cross the finish line of her career, making her perhaps the most fitting moderator for Simona Halep’s farewell event in Cluj.
As an on-court interviewer, a role she has successfully embraced for the past two years at the Transylvania Open, alongside Horia Tecău, Raluca guided Simona’s announcement with great empathy, contributing to the emotional weight of a moment that will remain etched in everyone’s memory.
We spoke with Raluca about how she experienced Tuesday evening alongside Simona, what this transition has been like for her after a career dedicated to performance, what has been difficult, what she enjoys about her new life, how she is forging a new path, and why she has remained close to tennis.
How did you experience Simona’s retirement announcement, being in the role of interviewer?
It was very emotional in many ways. Of course, I understand what it means because I have been through it myself. Everyone’s experience is different, but certain aspects are universal, because we dedicate our lives to a single pursuit for 30 years, and when that chapter ends, even if we know it’s the right decision, emotions will inevitably be involved.
Secondly, I was emotional about the moment itself, because it was Simona, for everything she has meant to us. The arena was packed, she was at home, with the Romanian crowd. All the ingredients were there for such a special moment. I was in this role, which I truly enjoy, but at the same time, it’s still new for me, even though I was here last year conducting interviews, I’m still at the beginning of this journey, so to speak. And I wanted the moment to turn out beautifully. Honestly, during the match, I couldn’t fully focus on the game because I kept rehearsing my speech, how to approach it, and what to say. I wanted it to go perfectly, and I was very nervous. At the same time, I felt that I knew what I had to do, given that I know Simona well and have gone through this experience myself. It was a beautiful moment, and I am so grateful I was able to be so close to her!
Simona mentioned that she felt relieved once she made her decision. I was wondering, was it the same for you? Did you feel that sense of relief?
Yes, absolutely. Of course, the journey to that decision was different for each of us. In my case, I had already taken a break of about a year and a half without playing. It was very important to me that when I made my decision and announced it, I was 100% sure it was final—that I wouldn’t come back in a year or two, or six months. That’s how I wanted it for myself, so I took as much time as I needed. And once I truly felt it was the right time, I wanted to make the announcement as soon as possible, without waiting any longer.
What do you enjoy about your new life?
I really love that my life is much calmer now. I’m home with my family and my loved ones, and I no longer have that feeling of loneliness that inevitably comes with this sport, it’s an incredibly solitary sport, even in doubles, as I’ve often said. Now, I have time for Raluca the person, for my soul, beyond just what I do professionally, whatever that may be. Now, I feel that, okay, I have a job, I’m involved in projects that I love and that are important to me, and I do them because I believe I can create something meaningful, otherwise, I wouldn’t do them. But at the same time, at the end of the day, I am simply Raluca, and now I have time for myself, something that, unfortunately, wasn’t the case before.
What do you hope people take away from the stories of your generation?
There are a few key things that I believe are important. The first, of course, is the belief that it is possible. I think our generation proved that loud and clear, led by Simona, of course.
And with you, because you paved the way.
And me, for opening the way, yes. I think things have changed for the better in the collective mindset of Romanian tennis fans. There is still room for improvement, and I’m motivated in that direction. So that’s the first thing, believing that success is possible. Then, for anyone who followed our generation closely, I think it was clear how much we grew, not just as players, but as individuals. We all learned a lot and matured greatly over time. In my opinion, we fought tough battles, not just against opponents, but within ourselves and against the mentality that is still very present in Romania: a lot of criticism, a lot of negativity, a lot of pressure. Over time, I think each of us managed to overcome those challenges and grow immensely.
One of the things I want to do in my post-playing career, whether as a coach, a commentator, or in the media, we’ll see how things unfold, but one of my goals is to help younger players develop a healthier attitude and mindset about tennis, and most importantly, about themselves as people. Because when you plant that seed early, everything is easier later on.
I also think this is a broader goal for Romania in general. In one way or another, our generation is working toward this through various initiatives. I believe that, beyond tennis, this shift is happening at a larger scale, and I’m confident we’re on the right path.
Is it important for as many of you as possible to stay involved in the sport? How did you decide to remain close to tennis?
If you had asked me five years ago, I honestly wouldn’t have thought I’d stay in the sport. Like Simona said, I read her interview, and I resonated with so much of it, when you’ve dedicated your entire life to something for so long, at some point, you crave something different. At the same time, this is what we know best. We’ve lived through certain experiences that people around us might not have had. And for anyone, it’s important to have a purpose in life. Since I’m no longer playing, I felt drawn to this path.
Do you think a better system has been built behind you than the one you had?
I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a system, no, we’re still far from that. What we’re trying to do at the club is a great initiative, but it’s also a very difficult one. It has a big impact on Romanian tennis, which is why I’m involved because truly great things are being done there. It’s a start toward building a system, but one club alone isn’t enough.
What I do see, however, is that many more experienced people have remained involved. Former players, for example, Andrei Pavel is coaching, Victor Hănescu has his academy, and I’m coaching as well. Plus, those who worked with our generation have accumulated valuable experience from being there with us through key moments. Compared to when I was starting, even later on, there are now many more capable, experienced people guiding the next generation, which helps a lot. There are also more tournaments. Right now, Romania is in a really good period.
How do you see the impact of the Transylvania Open in this ecosystem?
It’s huge! A generation like ours deserved to have such a beautifully organized, high-standard tournament in Romania. Every time I come here, I’m incredibly impressed by what they manage to accomplish. Each year, they’re even more motivated and improve things even further. I’m so happy that there are people who want to make this happen in Romania. In a way, they are trailblazers, more and more people are now interested in organizing tournaments, building facilities, and developing projects in cities beyond just Bucharest, which is fantastic. And, going back to your earlier question, this might just be the beginning of a real system.
