Just days after revealing that retirement was a serious consideration, former world No. 1 Simona Halep shocked fans by making that consideration a reality far sooner than expected. The two-time Grand Slam champion announced the decision to leave the sport following a crushing defeat at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, where she lost 6-1 6-1 in the first round to Lucia Bronzetti.
The 33-year-old has endured an incredibly tough journey over the last few years, battling through a torturous doping ban and a long, difficult fight to return to the WTA Tour.