Simona Halep has revealed that she is strongly considering retirement (Image: Getty)
has revealed that she has been considering retirement despite being allowed to return to the tour.
Last March, the Court of Arbitration for Sport slashed Halep’s doping ban from four years to nine months, meaning she was able to immediately make a comeback. But the former world No. 1 has barely played since.
This week, Halep is competing in her home tournament in Cluj – just her fifth event since her suspension was reduced less than a year ago.
The two-time Major champion entered both the singles and doubles at this week’s Transylvania Open. It’s Halep’s first tournament of 2025 and her first appearance on a match court since October.
The 33-year-old has struggled to compete since being allowed to return from her doping suspension last March. She has battled a knee injury, which stagnated her comeback, and the issue has now left Halep considering retirement.
“The knee injury I have is quite serious and difficult to recover from,” Halep told 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.
Simona Halep is competing at this week’s Transylvania Open (Image: Getty)
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“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 former world No. 1 revealed that she was told to go under the knife to solve her knee problems. But Halep isn’t keen on the surgery and says she feels ready to move on from tennis.
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.”
While retirement is on her mind, Halep is currently focused on competing in Romania. The 33-year-old teamed up with Ana Bogdan in the doubles but lost in the first round.
Halep will now face Lucia Bronzetti in the singles as she bids to win her first WTA Tour-level match since returning from her suspension.