Whilst all the talk about comebacks has been dominated by Serena Williams’ story, plenty has been going on in the background of the tennis world.
After all, crucial preparations are being made ahead of the new campaign, which could be the difference between ultimate glory and obscurity.
And yet, despite the promise of the 2026 campaign, this last month of the year offers an opportunity to reflect on the season that has just been.
As is the case with every new year, there have been plenty of notable retirements to recall.
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However, one such name from the WTA Tour, whose departure from the sport shocked many, has now admitted she has started to miss tennis already.
Simona Halep reveals the story behind her shock retirement
Speaking to The National, Simona Halep provided a unique and revealing insight into her final days as a professional tennis player, before then outlining her current stance on the sport.
She began by telling the story behind her retirement, stating: “I thought for a long time about when to make the decision, when to play my last match, but certainly, I didn’t decide it when I walked onto the court to face Lucia that day.
“I simply felt that my place was no longer there. I felt very far away physically, I had knee pain and I could still feel it. After losing the first set, I made a decision and said, ‘After this, I’m going to stop.’ Then I went to my parents and told them I wanted to stop. They saw it as a good thing, that’s the story, but the reality is that no one knew.
“I never questioned my decision, never. Probably, that means that, within me, that was the right decision. Some time later, now thinking about it, I know I did what I felt; undoubtedly it was the best.”
And yet, despite this confidence in her decision, Halep did admit she misses tennis: “Honestly, I do miss tennis a little bit. I got goosebumps when I entered the centre court of these last WTA Finals, remembering everything that was at stake there.
“Although, well, I admit that everything is better without that match stress. I no longer suffer from that stomachache before matches; it was killing me. Being so emotional affected me a lot on the court, but it was part of me and had to be accepted.”
She seemingly still holds a lot of love for tennis, with Halep revealing her interest in potentially becoming a coach in the future recently too.
Other tennis players who surprised the world with their retirements
Whilst Halep had alluded to the fact that her career was winding down, particularly as she nursed so many injuries following her return to the sport after her ban, the tennis world was still stunned by her decision earlier this year.
After all, she made the announcement on court after a seemingly routine defeat to Lucia Bronzetti at the Transylvania Open.
However, the Romanian superstar was not the first, and will not be the last, to pull a stunt like this.
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Ash Barty is arguably the outstanding example of this, who retired just weeks after winning the Australian Open in 2022, whilst still being ranked world number one.
Bjorn Borg is another, who retired at just 26, but Martina Hingis’ retirement at just 22, after becoming the youngest major champion in Open Era history, and the youngest in history to reach number one, was perhaps the most shocking ever, despite her eventual comeback.
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