“I am old, I have injuries that I can’t recover from”: Simona Halep offers retirement words in honest confession on future

Simona Halep Admits Retirement Crosses Her Mind Amid Persistent Injuries

Former world No. 1 Simona Halep has opened up about the ongoing struggles she faces with injury, admitting that retirement is something she considers frequently.

After successfully appealing her doping ban, Halep was cleared to return to professional tennis in 2024. However, her comeback has been anything but smooth, with the Romanian playing just two matches—one in Miami in March and another in Hong Kong in October.

Despite competing in smaller-level tournaments to rebuild her ranking, injuries have continued to derail her progress. Most recently, she was forced to miss the Australian Open after sustaining an injury during the World Tennis League exhibition event.

Now, Halep is set to return next week at the Transylvania Open, which begins on February 3. However, she has hinted that her future in the sport may be uncertain, a stark contrast to the heights she reached before her suspension.

“Of course, I think about retiring, and this goes through my mind very often. I am old, and I have injuries that I can’t recover from. My knee is not recovering,” she told Golazo.ro.

The two-time Grand Slam champion also expressed that while tennis has been a huge part of her life, she has aspirations beyond the sport.

“I have always said that tennis is not life in its entirety. Of course, I still have many desires and goals in this life after tennis.

“Everything I have done in tennis has been extraordinary. I have worked for it, and I feel like a very fulfilled tennis player. I would like to do something else, not just tennis.”

Providing further insight into her physical struggles, Halep revealed that her ongoing knee issue—a cartilage tear—remains a significant concern.

“My knee is still giving me a headache because it’s a cartilage tear, and it’s not easy to manage. At the moment, it doesn’t hurt, but I haven’t had any official matches either. That’s the problem.”

As Halep prepares for her return in Romania, all eyes will be on whether she can overcome her injury setbacks and prolong her career—or if her time in the sport is nearing its end.