The double champion of the Grand Slam and former world number one Simona Halep retired from tennis.
Romania announced its decision on the courtyard at the transylvania Open following its 6-1 6-1 defeat in the first round against Lucia Bronzetti.
The 33 -year -old recently said she was Considering retirement Due to a knee injury which forced him to withdraw from the Australian open qualifications last month.
This week’s event was only his fifth tournament since his return to the WTA tour after a doping ban, in a case that lasted almost two years.
Manufacturing An emotional declaration At the crowd, Halep said: “I make this decision with my soul.
“It’s a great thing. I became the world number one, I won the Grand Chelem, that’s all I wanted. Life continues, there is life after tennis and I hope we meet again.
“I will come to tennis here as often as possible and of course, I will continue to play – but to be competitive, it requires much more and at the moment, it’s no longer.”
Halep memorable First major title at the French Open In 2018, beating Sloane Stephens, after losing its three previous finals of the Grand Chelem.
She then won in Wimbledon in 2019, Maked only three unlocked errors in an astonishing final victory over Serena Williams.
She won 22 other WTA Tour titles and spent 64 weeks as the world number one.
Halep received a four -year ban for two separate doping offenses after being initially tested positive for a prohibited substance in August 2022.
She has always maintained her innocence and called on the ban on the Arbitration Court for Sport in 2024.
The panel judged that Halep, “on the balance of probabilities”, had not taken roxadustat intentionally and it The ban has been reduced at nine months.
She then returned to the WTA tour in March 2024, but only played six games until 2025 and won only once.
“I have always been realistic with myself and with my body,” said Halep.
“Where I was probably, it is very difficult to get there and I know what it means to get there.”