Simona Halep received a message from Boris Becker following her retirement from professional tennis.
To the surprise of many, Halep hung up her racket after losing 1-6, 1-6 to Lucia Bronzetti at the Transylvania Open Open in Cluj-Napoca.
This was the 34-year-old’s first match since the Hong Kong Open in October, and now she has decided it will be her last.
Following defeat in front of her home fans, the Romanian thought it was a fitting time to announce that her career had come to an end.
Boris Becker sends message to Simona Help after her retirement
Following her final match Simona Halep addressed the crowd before an emotional bidding farewell.
She ended her career with two Grand Slam titles and 64 weeks as the WTA Tour’s World number one.
Halep has received several messages of support from members of the tennis world, including six-time major winner Boris Becker.
He took to X on Tuesday afternoon and wrote: “Congratulations Simona for your incredible career. Wimbledon and Roland Garros champion plus Number 1 in the world, and many other trophies.
“The game of tennis will miss you! Many thanks for all your contributions!”
Simona Halep reacts after retiring from tennis
Halep conducted an emotional interview in which she addressed her home fans at the Transylvania Open.
After it took Bronzetti just 59 minutes to beat Halep for the loss of just two games, the Romanian explained why she had chosen to step away from the game.
“Tonight, I don’t know if it’s with joy or sadness, I think both feelings are trying me but I’m making this decision with my soul,” she said.
“I’ve always been realistic with myself and with my body. Where I probably was, it’s very hard to get there and I know what it means to get there. That’s why I wanted to come here today in Cluj to play in front of you and say goodbye.
“Even though my performance wasn’t very good it was still my soul and I’m very glad you came, and I’ll wonder if I’ll come back again. But for now it’s the last time I’ve played here and I don’t want to cry.
“It’s a beautiful thing. I became world No 1, I won grand slams, it’s all I wanted. Life goes on, there is life after tennis and I hope that we will see each other again.
“I’ll come to the tennis here as often as I can and of course I will continue to play – but to be competitive it requires much more and at this moment it is no longer.”
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