It’s been a year since Simona Halep retired from tennis…
Losing her first-round match at the 2025 Transylvania Open, Halep retired from tennis on Tuesday, February 4.
365 days later, Halep is back in her home country, Romania, working as an honorary ambassador for the Transylvania Open.
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She was spotted in the stands during Emma Raducanu’s win over Greet Minnen earlier in the tournament, prompting the Brit to shout her out during her post-match interview.
“I knew she was there, so I was trying not to think about it, not to get nervous. But it was really nice to know that she was there and present,” said Raducanu.
Halep has now taken to X, sharing her thoughts on the tournament so far, and suggesting whether she regrets retiring from tennis.
Simona Halep says she is ‘at peace’ with her decision to retire
“Back on this court, one year after saying goodbye to professional tennis, in a completely new role,” said Halep.
“Grateful for the journey, at peace with my decision, and proud of everything I achieved.
“Thank you for the love I still receive every day.”
Halep is expected to present the winner’s trophy to the 2026 Transylvania Open champion.
But who might that be?
2026 Transylvania Open 2R matches
- Emma Raducanu (Great Britain) vs Kaja Juvan (Slovenia)
- Sorana Cirstea (Romania) vs Tamara Zidansek (Slovenia)
2026 Transylvania Open QF matches
- Emma Raducanu (Great Britain)/Kaja Juvan (Slovenia) vs Maja Chwalinska (Poland)
- Xinyu Wang (China) vs Oleksandra Oliynykova (Ukraine)
- Anastasia Potapova (Austria) vs Sorana Cirstea (Romania)/Tamara Zidansek (Slovenia)
- Yue Yuan (China) vs Daria Snigur (Ukraine)
The Romanian fans want to see the home favorite Sorana Cirstea lift the trophy, but would also love Raducanu to win in Transylvania.
Raducanu’s father, Ion Raducanu, is Romanian, and the Cluj-Napoca crowd has adopted her as one of their own.
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Do you think this is a possibility?
Only time will tell if either player can emerge victorious in Romania.
Did Simona Halep ever win a title in Romania?
Yes, Romania’s greatest-ever tennis player did win titles in her home country.
Halep won two titles at the Bucharest Open on clay.
- 2014 Bucharest Open – Defeated Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-3
- 2016 Bucharest Open – Defeated Anastasija Sevastova, 6-0, 6-0
She never won the Transylvania Open, though, despite contesting the tournament’s first-ever final.
Transylvania Open final history
| Final | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 | Anastasia Potapova (Austria) | Lucia Bronzetti (Italy) | 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2024 | Karolina Pliskova (Czechia) | Ana Bogdan (Romania) | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2023 | Tamara Korpatsch (Germany) | Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Romania) | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2022 | Anna Blinkova (Russia) | Jasmine Paolini (Italy) | 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 2021 | Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) | Simona Halep (Romania) | 6-2, 6-3 |
Halep became the first of three Romanian players to lose in the Transylvania Open final, as the event waits for its maiden home winner.
Even if it’s only handing over the trophy to the 2026 champion, Halep will at least get to touch the trophy this time around!
Simona Halep’s greatest career achievements
Retiring after time out of the sport due to her controversial suspension, perhaps the tennis world didn’t give Halep the send-off she deserved.
After all, she was one of the greatest players of her generation.
Simona Halep’s ‘big’ titles
- 2018 French Open (Grand Slam)
- 2019 Wimbledon (Grand Slam)
- 2014 Qatar Open (WTA 1000)
- 2015 Dubai Tennis Championships (WTA 1000)
- 2015 Indian Wells (WTA 1000)
- 2016 Madrid Open (WTA 1000)
- 2016 Canadian Open (WTA 1000)
- 2017 Madrid Open (WTA 1000)
- 2018 Canadian Open (WTA 1000)
- 2020 Italian Open (WTA 1000)
- 2022 Canadian Open (WTA 1000)
Halep won two Grand Slam titles and nine WTA 1000s.
Her nine WTA 1000 titles puts her level with Venus Williams, Aryna Sabalenka, Monica Seles, Conchita Martinez, and Petra Kvitova in the all-time list.
All-time WTA 1000 winners
| Rank | Name | Country | Titles | Years won |
| 1 | Serena Williams | USA | 23 | 1999-2016 |
| 2 | Martina Hingis | Switzerland | 17 | 1997-2007 |
| 3 | Steffi Graf | Germany | 15 | 1990-1996 |
| 4 | Maria Sharapova | Russia | 14 | 2005-2015 |
| T-5 | Iga Swiatek | Poland | 11 | 2021-2025 |
| T-5 | Lindsay Davenport | USA | 11 | 1997-2005 |
| T-7 | Victoria Azarenka | Belarus | 10 | 2009-2020 |
| T-7 | Justine Henin | Belgium | 10 | 2002-2007 |
| T-9 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 9 | 2018-2025 |
| T-9 | Petra Kvitova | Czechia | 9 | 2011-2023 |
| T-9 | Simona Halep | Romania | 9 | 2014-2022 |
| T-9 | Venus Williams | USA | 9 | 1998-2015 |
| T-9 | Monica Seles | USA | 9 | 1990-2000 |
| T-9 | Conchita Martinez | Spain | 9 | 1993-2000 |
| 15 | Kim Clijsters | Belgium | 7 | 2003-2010 |
| T-16 | Caroline Wozniacki | Denmark | 6 | 2010-2018 |
| T-16 | Jelena Jankovic | Serbia | 6 | 2007-2010 |
| T-16 | Amelie Mauresmo | France | 6 | 2001-2005 |
| T-16 | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | Spain | 6 | 1992-1996 |
| T-20 | Agnieszka Radwanska | Poland | 5 | 2011-2016 |
| T-20 | Dinara Safina | Russia | 5 | 2008-2009 |
| T-20 | Mary Pierce | France | 5 | 1997-2005 |
| T-20 | Gabriela Sabatini | Argentina | 5 | 1991-1992 |
The Romanian also became the first player from her country to reach world number one, and held the top spot for 64 weeks (13th all-time).
Perhaps she would have achieved even more if things had gone differently near the tail-end of her career.
Regardless, she remains the greatest tennis player Romania has ever produced, and her many fans will be glad to see her back amongst the action at this week’s Transylvania Open.
The 2026 Transylvania Open women’s singles final is scheduled for Saturday, February 7.
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