Simona Halep Considers Retirement Amid Persistent Injury Struggles

CLUJ-NAPOCA, Romania — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has revealed that retirement is a frequent consideration as persistent injuries continue to derail her comeback to professional tennis. The 33-year-old Romanian, who returned to the sport in February 2024 after a reduced doping ban, has played only two WTA-level matches since her comeback, struggling with knee and shoulder issues.

Halep, who peaked at No. 1 in the WTA rankings and won the French Open in 2017 and Wimbledon in 2018, admitted in an interview with Golazo.ro that her injuries have made it difficult to compete at the highest level. “Of course, I think about retiring, and this goes through my mind very often. I am old, I have injuries that I can’t recover from. My knee is not recovering,” she said.

Since her return, Halep has faced a series of setbacks. She lost in the first round of the Miami Open in March 2024 and played only one match at the Hong Kong Tennis Open in October. Her 2025 season began outside the top 800 in the WTA rankings, and she withdrew from the Australian Open qualifiers due to ongoing pain. “My knee is still giving me a headache because it’s a cartilage tear, and it’s not easy to manage,” Halep explained.

Despite her challenges, Halep remains proud of her achievements, which include 24 career singles titles and three Grand Slam runner-up finishes. “Everything I have done in tennis has been extraordinary. I have worked for it, and I feel like a very fulfilled tennis player,” she said. However, she acknowledged that her focus is shifting toward life beyond tennis. “I would like to do something else, not just tennis.”

Halep’s fans will have a chance to see her compete next week at the Transylvania Open in her home country, where she received a wildcard entry. She is set to face Italy‘s Lucia Bronzetti in the first round. The tournament also features players like Anastasia Potapova, Olga Danilovic, and Peyton Stearns.

Halep’s career has been marked by both triumph and adversity. After testing positive for roxadustat at the 2022 US Open, she was initially handed a four-year doping ban, which was later reduced to nine months on appeal. Her return to the court has been hampered by injuries, leaving her future in the sport uncertain. “Life moves forward, and I’ll take things as they come,” she said.