The former world number one in women\u2019s tennis, Simona Halep, 34, officially retired from professional sports activity on Saturday, June 13, during a gala event organized at BT Arena in Cluj-Napoca, as part of the 7th edition of the Sports Festival.<\/p>\n
The event, marked by highly emotional moments, brought together great legends of Romanian sport, including Nadia Com\u0103neci, Gheorghe Hagi, Ilie N\u0103stase, and Virginia Ruzici, as well as international tennis personalities such as Halep’s former coaches, Darren Cahill and Daniel Dobre, umpire Kader Nouni, and top players Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the gala, images from the family life and career of the former world number one were shown for the first time, accompanied by the song \u201cThe Winner Takes It All\u201d\u00a0 by ABBA, performed live by Loredana Groza, who also opened the show.\u00a0Nouni also offered Halep a collage of her winning trophies from the part of the Women\u2019s Tennis Association.\u00a0Similarly, the vice-president of the Romanian Tennis Federation, Daniel Dobre, presented the athlete with a special trophy from the national governing body.<\/p>\n
During the retirement event, the public could admire all the trophies Simona Halep won throughout her career. In addition, the playing court at BT Arena was symbolically customized in two colors: green for the Wimbledon title and orange for the Roland Garros title.<\/p>\n
Halep thanked her fans, coaches, and her family for supporting her during her career. She also expressed special thanks to the legends of Romanian sports,\u00a0Nadia Com\u0103neci, Gheorghe Hagi, and Ilie N\u0103stase.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Romania, this is where I was born, this is where I grew up (…) I thank you from the bottom of my heart for not doubting me when things were difficult for me,\u201d said Halep to mark the event, according to Digi24<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the images we have just seen on the screens… this is my life, all the people who were beside me, and, you should know, every day was a special day. It was difficult, but in the end it was beautiful. So I regret nothing, and I just want to thank life and the universe for everything I have received,\u201d Halep declared.<\/p>\n