Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No.1 Simona Halep has fronted up about her injury struggles by admitting her recent setbacks are "hard to recover from", hinting at retirement.
Since September 2022, life for Halep has been an emotionally draining experience; at times, seemingly facing no light at the end of the tunnel.
The Romanian tested positive for a banned substance under the name Roxadustat at the US Open three years ago.
Her ban was overturned in March 2024 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), allowing her to return to the competitive scene with immediate effect.
However, injuries have halted Halep's comeback, suffering knee and shoulder issues which kept her out of Australian Open qualifying after receiving a wildcard.
Speaking to Romanian publication Golazo, the 33-year-old revealed that retirement is well within the realms of possibility.
"The knee injury I have is quite serious and difficult to recover from. I don’t know if I’m afraid to push myself, but when I feel pain, it’s hard to play at my highest level. It’s very difficult to get back to where I was, especially after such a long break," she said.
"The thought of retiring crosses my mind very often. I’ve reached an age where I have injuries that are hard to recover from. My knee won’t heal completely — I was advised to undergo surgery, but it’s a complicated procedure, and I don’t think I will go through with it. We’ll see what happens next. Life moves forward, and I’ll take things as they come.
"Tennis is not everything in life. I have many desires and goals beyond the sport. Everything I have done has been extraordinary… I may not have even dreamed of becoming world No. 1 and winning two Grand Slam titles. I worked hard for it, and I feel fulfilled as a tennis player. Now, I want to do something else, not just tennis. The first part of my life was all about tennis; now, I want to explore other things."
Halep has entered the upcoming Winners Open in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca and is set to face Italy's Lucia Bronzetti in the first-round.
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