Darren Cahill recently shared heartfelt reflections about Simona Halep, who retired from tennis in February at age 33. The Australian coach pinpointed her 2018 Roland Garros triumph—where she beat Sloane Stephens in the final to claim her first Grand Slam—as a defining moment in his career.
Cahill called that Paris victory the most poignant experience he’s had, whether as a player or coach. “Without a doubt, the most emotional moment for me was when Simona won Roland Garros,” he told the British press. “Her journey, her fight, the way she carried herself on court—it’s unmatched. She’d come off that Australian Open final loss earlier that year. What a phenomenal player. She deserves every bit of praise.”
Before her 2018 breakthrough, Halep had endured two Roland Garros final defeats—falling to Maria Sharapova in 2014 and Jelena Ostapenko in 2017. Her partnership with Cahill, which wrapped up in 2021, yielded that long-awaited title and more, and though they’ve since parted ways professionally, their bond remains strong.
