Simona Halep Retires at 33 After Two Grand Slams

Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1, has announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 33. The Romanian star ended her career after an injury-plagued comeback following a doping suspension. She made the announcement after a first-round loss to Lucia Bronzetti at the Transylvania Open in her home country. Halep’s career highlights include Wimbledon 2019 and French Open 2018 titles, along with 24 WTA singles titles and over $40 million in prize money.

Key Highlights of Simona Halep’s Career & Retirement

Career Achievements

• Former World No. 1 in WTA rankings (first reached in 2017).
• Two Grand Slam singles titles
• French Open 2018 (defeated Sloane Stephens).
• Wimbledon 2019 (defeated Serena Williams).
• Three-time Grand Slam runner-up
• Australian Open 2018 (lost to Caroline Wozniacki).
• French Open 2014 (lost to Maria Sharapova).
• French Open 2017 (lost to Jelena Ostapenko).
• Won 24 WTA singles titles throughout her career.
• Earned over $40 million in prize money.

Retirement & Recent Challenges

• Retired at 33 years old after a first-round loss at the Transylvania Open 2024.
• Struggled with injuries, withdrawing from the Australian Open 2024 and a tournament in Auckland due to knee and shoulder issues.
• Ranked No. 870 at the time of retirement but received a wild-card entry to compete in Romania.

Doping Suspension & Return

• Tested positive for Roxadustat at the 2022 U.S. Open after a first-round loss.
• Initially received a four-year ban but later reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in March 2024.
• CAS found her not significantly at fault due to contaminated supplements but determined she did not exercise sufficient care.
• Returned to professional tennis at the Miami Open 2024, but played only six matches before retiring.