“This was my farewell match here in Romania, and I’m happy with that because I’ve achieved everything I ever wanted in my career. Tennis is my passion, but I am a realist: when the end comes, it comes. And I’m at peace with this decision,” said Simona Halep at the press conference, her last as a professional player.
On how difficult it was to make and announce this decision:
“I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to make it sound too easy, of course, on the inside, there are lots of emotions and feelings. But I am very much at peace with this decision. I’m a realist and know what it takes to reach the top. Right now, my mind and my body can’t handle that effort anymore. Maybe I feel so fulfilled on a professional level that, in a way, it made this decision easier. It was an emotional match, but I didn’t cry, which even surprised me. Maybe it’s also a sense of release. I’ve been through so many difficult things lately, and I’ve realized it’s time to move on. Perhaps that’s why I feel free and at peace.”
On when she first thought about retiring:
“After I understood that my knee injury was serious and that without surgery, it would be nearly impossible to return to the top. I’ve always said that if I couldn’t make it back to the level I once was, it wouldn’t be worth the daily struggle. Because high performance is a struggle, at least from my perspective. Being away from the court during this time made me realize how tough the past 15 years have been—working every single day, and pushing myself to the limit no matter how I felt. But maybe life is about more than that. That’s what I’ve come to understand, and I want to enjoy what I have now. I’ve done so much in tennis, and I am content with what I’ve accomplished. I feel that it’s time to look in a different direction.”
On three people who had the biggest impact on her career:
“As I said on the court, the three people who have been there unconditionally are my parents and my brother. They supported me from day one with everything they had, emotionally and financially. They never pressured me, they were simply there for me no matter what. And, of course, I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my career because each person played an important role. I won’t start listing names because there are too many, but Darren Cahill had a huge impact in helping me win a Grand Slam. He made me believe in myself—believe that I had both the mental and physical ability to win a major title. I want to thank him for that. Everyone contributed in some way, and I appreciate each one of them.”
On whether she feels her achievements in tennis outweigh the controversies of recent years:
“Yes, I felt that way even during my suspension because I had enormous, unconditional support. I keep using that word—’ unconditional’—because it’s real, and it’s true. I am at peace. I know I never did anything wrong to the sport, and I know I am clean. So mentally, it didn’t affect me. It just took me out of the circuit. Maybe that’s what was intended, maybe that’s just how the system works. But I’m here now, I’m emotionally well, and that’s what matters most.”
On the defining moment of her career:
“Without a doubt, my first Grand Slam title. Because, as I’ve always said, even if you’re World’s No. 1, if you haven’t won a Grand Slam, you’re not truly No. 1. It’s every kid’s dream to lift a Grand Slam trophy, so for me, it has to be Roland Garros 2018.”
On her plans:
“Right now, I just want to rest. I’m an emotionally exhausted professional tennis player and I need to recover. I don’t want to make any plans yet. I’ll let life unfold and see what comes next.”
On whether this is a final farewell:
“We never know what life has in store, but this is a goodbye from the court here, at home, in Cluj, in front of the people who have always shown me so much love and warmth. Today, I truly feel that this is the right decision. Because if you’re not training at 100% every day, you can’t compete at the highest level. And I’m not the type of person who just steps onto the court without giving my all.”
On whether she would have continued playing if her ranking had been restored:
“Maybe mentally it would have helped me start training daily again. I could have entered big tournaments, I could have played more events. It might have been a mental boost to continue this year. But maybe these are signs telling me it’s time to stop, and I’ve accepted that. That’s life, things happen. Even when everything unfolded the way it did, I kept thinking that maybe there was a reason for it. Maybe it was time to look in another direction.”
On any regrets:
“The biggest regret was not reaching the Fed Cup final. After that, I never played in the competition again because I couldn’t get past the disappointment of losing the 2018 semifinal. Other regrets? Maybe I made some decisions that weren’t the best, maybe I could have done some things better. But I don’t usually dwell on regrets. I believe it’s better to take action than to regret not trying at all. And I am at peace with that. I’ve achieved what no one in Romania could have imagined. I went from Constanța to playing on the biggest courts in the world, with a family that had no tennis background but was passionate about sports and believed in me. That support helped me get here. No regrets, just looking ahead and feeling proud that we had such a journey in Romanian sports. I think that’s important for every young player aspiring to succeed.”
On her fellow players, who were emotional at her farewell:
“It’s touching to see that. Even though we weren’t extremely close, we were colleagues. We lived on the circuit together, far from home, supporting each other. We pushed one another forward, and I think every player’s success inspired the others. It showed us all that anything is possible in tennis. I wish them all the best, and I’ll be waiting for them. Age spares no one, the moment comes for everyone. My brother even asked me, ‘Why are you smiling? Why does this seem so easy for you?’ And I told him, ‘It’s not easy. Maybe it’s just a release.’ That’s what I truly want, to feel free. And maybe it’s time to look in a new direction.”
On why she chose to make this announcement here:
“I’ve always been honest and said what I truly felt. I haven’t trained much lately due to physical issues. I knew I wouldn’t perform at my best today, but I didn’t want to retire from my couch. That’s why I felt this was the right moment, here in Cluj, because of the fans. Every time I played here, I felt a warmth and love that I hadn’t felt anywhere else in Romania. I felt safe making this decision here. The Transylvania Open means a lot to me, and the Ciorcilă family has supported me for years, both as sponsors and as friends. That’s why I felt this was the right place. But honestly, before the match, I still had doubts. Yet when I stepped on the court and felt everything happening around me, I knew with all my heart that this was the right decision.”
A message for her fans:
“I’m going to miss these moments too, for sure. Even if right now it might seem easy for me, I know I’ll miss them and feel the absence of playing in front of my fans. I want to thank them for their unconditional support over the years! It’s been an incredible career, but the support I’ve received worldwide has been exceptional. There were many tough moments during matches when their encouragement pushed me forward and helped me win certain trophies. Thank you so much, and I hope we’ll see each other again soon, in a different way!”
