Simona Halep is one of the most successful players currently on the WTA Tour, but the 30-year-old Romanian admitted that she was close to retiring recently.
After becoming world number 1 in 2017, winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018, and adding another one in 2019, Simona Halep went through a difficult period during the 2021 season as she dropped out of the Top 10 of the WTA Rankings after finishing within Top 5 for seven years in a row.
Now, she's back to competing, as she's among the participants at the 2022 Madrid Open. In the meantime, she spoke to Alize Lim in an exclusive interview for Tennis Majors’ show "Major Talk," in which she discussed her feelings.
"I thought at 30 I would be done and I was close to be done this year. Actually last year, as well, after the injury I had. At the beginning of the year (2022) I was a little bit better but still not very confident so I thought it may be the last period I could play tennis."
According to the Romanian player, teaming up with Patrick Mouratoglou has been the turning point in her career, as it brought the fire back in her.
"But then I discovered Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, I discovered something, the fire is back in my inside for tennis. Seeing the kids here doing everything possible to be at the top, I have it back. I needed that, to see in other people, in other kids, and I have it back."
The former world no. 1 didn't think she would be able to return back to the top level, but she's now close to doing that. Halep also said that she though that 30 years of age is good age to retire.
"I didn’t believe I would come back at the same level after the injury, because I was off about four months. I had never been off four months from tennis, so I struggled big time last year. And also I thought at 30 it’s a good age to retire."
"I always thought about it but probably it was always in my mind. I would really love to have kids but they can wait a bit more because I have this pleasure I don’t want to give up."
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