Simona Halep Retires from Professional Tennis After 24 Titles

Simona Halep, a former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, has officially announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 33 after a first-round loss at the Transylvania Open in her home country of Romania. In an emotional farewell, Halep expressed mixed feelings of joy and sadness, stating that she made the decision with a 'peaceful heart' as her body could no longer support the demands of the sport. Throughout her career, Halep secured 24 WTA singles titles, including the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019, and spent a total of 64 weeks as world No. 1. Her retirement comes after a challenging period marked by injuries and a doping suspension that impacted her performance. Tributes have poured in from fellow players, including Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker, who recognized her significant contributions to tennis. Halep reflected on her journey, emphasizing that while her competitive career has ended, there is life beyond tennis, and she hopes to remain connected with her fans.