Simona Halep Breaks Her Silence: Why the Two-Time Grand Slam Champion Says “I Don’t Regret Anything”
In a poignant reflection on her illustrious career and the challenges that marked its end, former world No. 1 Simona Halep has opened up about her journey in tennis, declaring that she harbors no regrets despite the controversies and setbacks that defined her later years.
The Romanian star, who captured Grand Slam titles at the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon, retired from professional tennis in February 2025 at the age of 33. Her farewell came after a brief comeback following a reduced doping suspension, plagued by persistent injuries that ultimately forced her off the court.
“Now I realize that I dedicated my whole life to this, so I have no regrets,” Halep shared in a recent interview, emphasizing the profound impact tennis had on her life. “Tennis never did anything bad to me; it only gave me good things.”
Halep’s career was nothing short of extraordinary. Rising from her hometown of Constanta, she became one of the most consistent and resilient players on the WTA Tour. She spent 64 weeks as the world No. 1, won 24 titles, and etched her name in history with dominant victories over legends like Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens in major finals.
Yet, her path was not without turmoil. In 2022, Halep tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat at the US Open, leading to a provisional suspension. An independent tribunal initially imposed a four-year ban in 2023, which would have kept her out until October 2026. Halep vehemently maintained her innocence, attributing the positive test to a contaminated supplement.
Her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 2024 proved successful: the ban was reduced to nine months, already served, allowing an immediate return. She competed in a handful of tournaments in 2024, but knee and other injuries limited her to just a few matches.
By early 2025, during a tournament in her native Romania—the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca—Halep faced the inevitable. After a first-round loss, she announced her retirement on court, acknowledging that her body could no longer sustain the demands of top-level competition.
“I have no regrets and every mistake I did, I assume it and I accept it,” Halep said, reflecting on the doping saga and her decisions along the way. “All the good things that I did, I’m proud of. I can say I’m proud of many things, but the main thing is the way I managed all the failures and the successes.”
Even in retirement, Halep’s love for the sport endures. She has been spotted hitting with top players, including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner during his preparations in late 2025, under the guidance of her former coach Darren Cahill. “Honestly, I miss tennis a little bit,” she admitted.
Halep’s words resonate as a testament to resilience. The doping controversy tested her mentally and emotionally—she once described it as feeling like “a truck hit me”—but she emerged with her head held high, refusing to let bitterness overshadow her achievements.
As she transitions to life beyond the baseline, spending more time at home and exploring new paths, Halep remains at peace. Tennis gave her everything: glory, growth, and lifelong lessons. And for that, the two-time Grand Slam champion insists, she wouldn’t change a thing.
