Simona Halep has admitted she’s contemplating retirement, even though she’s been cleared to compete again.
In March of last year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced her doping ban from four years to just nine months, allowing her an immediate return. However, she’s had limited court time since then.
Currently, Halep is playing in her hometown at the Transylvania Open in Cluj, marking only her fifth tournament since her ban was shortened. This is her first event in 2025 and her first match since October.
The former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam winner has entered both singles and doubles. Yet, her comeback has been hampered by a knee injury, which has not only slowed her down but has now led her to consider hanging up her racquet.
“The knee injury I have is quite serious and difficult to recover from,” Halep told Golazo ahead of the WTA 250 in Cluj.
“I don’t know if I’m afraid to push myself, but when I feel pain, it’s hard to play at my highest level. It’s very difficult to get back to where I was, especially after such a long break.
“The thought of retiring crosses my mind very often. I’ve reached an age where I have injuries that are hard to recover from.”
The Romanian continued: “My knee won’t heal completely. I was advised to undergo surgery, but it’s a complicated procedure, and I don’t think I will go through with it.
“We’ll see what happens next. Life moves forward, and I’ll take things as they come. Tennis is not everything in life. I have many desires and goals beyond the sport.
“Everything I have done has been extraordinary… I may not have even dreamed of becoming world No. 1 and winning two Grand Slam titles. I worked hard for it, and I feel fulfilled as a tennis player.
“Now, I want to do something else, not just tennis. The first part of my life was all about tennis; now, I want to explore other things.”
Although retirement is something Halep is thinking about, her immediate focus is on the competition in Romania. She partnered with Ana Bogdan for the doubles but was knocked out in the first round.
Now, she’s set to take on Lucia Bronzetti in singles, aiming to secure her first WTA Tour victory since coming back from her suspension.
