Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 33, following a first-round defeat at a tournament in her native Romania on Tuesday. This conclusion of her career comes after a lengthy struggle involving injuries and a doping suspension.

In a heartfelt address to the audience in Cluj, Romania, Halep expressed mixed emotions about her decision. “I am unsure if I feel sadness or joy—it is a bit of both—but I find peace in knowing that I made the right choice. I have been realistic about my situation; my body can no longer endure the demands it once could,” she stated after her match, which she lost 6-1, 6-1 to Lucia Bronzetti during the Transylvania Open.

Halep pointed out the challenges of reaching the competitive level she once held, acknowledging the immense effort it requires. “It’s extremely tough to regain that level, and I understand the sacrifices involved,” she remarked. She specifically wanted to bid farewell to her fans on her home turf, even if her last performance did not meet her standards.

This was her first match of the year, and Halep’s ranking has significantly declined. She was once at the top of the WTA rankings, earning the No. 1 spot in 2017, but now finds herself ranked 870th, necessitating a wild-card entry to participate in the Romanian event. Recently, she had to withdraw from qualifying for the Australian Open as well as a preparatory tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, due to ongoing pain in her knee and shoulder, adding yet another setback to her career.

Throughout her illustrious career, Halep achieved notable success, having claimed significant titles including Wimbledon in 2019 against Serena Williams and the French Open in 2018 after defeating Sloane Stephens. Additionally, she was a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, finishing second at the Australian Open in 2018 and at the French Open in 2014 and 2017.

Halep’s last match at a Grand Slam was at the 2022 U.S. Open, where she faced a first-round exit to Daria Snigur of Ukraine, followed by a positive test for the prohibited substance Roxadustat. This drug, which was approved for use in Europe in 2021, is known to boost stamina by increasing the production of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), often used by athletes to enhance performance.

Initially facing a four-year ban that would have kept her sidelined until 2026, Halep appealed the decision, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport subsequently reduced her suspension to nine months in March 2024. In her appeal, she claimed that she unintentionally consumed a contaminated supplement that led to her positive test. Although CAS acknowledged that she bore some responsibility for not being more careful with the supplement, they concluded that it was not intentional, stating she was not significantly at fault.

After serving her reduced ban, Halep made her return at the Miami Open; however, she has participated in only six matches since. During her career, she amassed a total of 24 singles titles and over $40 million in prize money.

“I realize that being competitive again requires much more effort than I am able to give, and therefore, it’s just not feasible anymore,” Halep reflected on her retirement. “I don’t want to shed tears; this is a beautiful moment. I achieved the No. 1 ranking in the world and won Grand Slam titles; it was everything I ever desired.”