Simona Halep bids emotional farewell to tennis in Cluj-Napoca
Story Timeline
9 days · 4 summary articles
Simona Halep, the two-time Grand Slam champion, bid an emotional farewell to professional tennis on Saturday night in Cluj-Napoca, marking the official end of a career that reshaped Romanian sport. The 34-year-old former world No 1, who won the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019, took part in a special exhibition match alongside Elina Svitolina, Gael Monfils and Andrei Pavel, delivering a final bow to a packed Sala Polivalentă. “Thank you, Romania,” Halep said in a heartfelt address, her voice breaking as she addressed the crowd that had supported her through triumphs and setbacks, including a doping ban that was later overturned.
Halep’s retirement was confirmed during the Sports Festival in her hometown, where she was honoured with a tribute befitting one of the country’s most decorated athletes. The exhibition match, played in front of adoring fans, served as a symbolic closure to a career that spanned over two decades. Halep first announced her retirement in February 2026, but Saturday’s event provided the emotional culmination of her journey, from a promising junior in Bucharest to the pinnacle of world tennis.
Her decision to step away comes as the sport prepares for the grass-court season, with Emma Raducanu reaching the final of the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham on Saturday. The British No 1 defeated Iva Jovic 6-2, 6-2 in a dominant display, just hours after recovering from a thigh injury sustained earlier in the day. Raducanu, who last reached a major final in 2021, will face Donna Vekic in Sunday’s final, a match that promises to be one of the most anticipated of the early summer circuit .
In cycling, Romanian rider Paula Blasi delivered a masterclass on the Tourmalet during the Tour des Pyrénées, launching a decisive attack to take the overall lead. The Vuelta a España champion’s performance on the iconic climb underscored her growing dominance in the women’s peloton, as she distanced her rivals in a display of tactical brilliance [source](lavanguardia.com
- 2
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
1 further source not geolocated
Articles
Simona Halep s-a retras oficial din tenis. „Mulţumesc României Fostul lider mondial al tenisului feminin, Simona Halep, s-a retras oficial din activitatea sportivă, sâmbătă seara, în cadrul unui eveniment de gală organizat la BT Arena din Cluj-Napoca, în cadrul celei de-a VII-a ediţii a Sports Festival. În faţa unei săli arhipline, vizibil emoţionată, Halep a transmis un mesaj de recunoştinţă fanilor şi ţării: „Mulţumesc României, aici m-am născut, aici am crescut (...) Vă mulţumesc din suflet pentru că nu v-aţi îndoit de mine atunci când mi-a fost greu.
digi24 · about 5 hours ago
Simona Halep a făcut ultima reverență în Sala Polivalentă din Cluj: „Mulțumesc, România! La 34 de ani, Simona Halep și-a făcut retragerea oficială din tenis în cadrul Sports Festival, disputând un meci demonstrativ cu Elina Svitolina, Gael Monfils și Andrei Pavel.
adevarul · about 6 hours ago
Paula Blasi también doma el Tourmalet y se exhibe en el Tour de los Pirineos La ganadora de la Vuelta lanza un gran ataque para ponerse líder de la carrera francesa
la vanguardia · about 6 hours ago
Portugal falha revalidação dos primeiros títulos europeus de canoagem Fernando Pimenta foi bronze em K1 1000. Campeões do Mundo e da Europa de K4 500 ficaram a 20 milésimos da prata de Alemanha e Espanha, terminando fora das medalhas.
publico · about 6 hours ago
Atlete Van Es verovert eerste Nederlandse titel op 10.000 meter Diane van Es heeft voor het eerst de Nederlandse titel veroverd op de 10.000 meter. De Rotterdamse atlete deed dat op de atletiekbaan in Leiden, waar het NK deel uitmaakte van de internationale wedstrijden om de Gouden Spike. Van Es won de wedstrijd in 31.39,28. Ze liep in de slotfase van de race weg bij de Ethiopische Almaz Baraki, die als tweede finishte in 31.44,29. De Italiaanse Federica Del Buono werd derde in 31.46,35.
rtl nieuws · about 6 hours ago
Radsport: Blut auf weißem Trikot: Top-Talent Seixas stürzt bei Abfahrt Frankreichs Radsport-Talent Paul Seixas ist bei der Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpe gestürzt. Der 19-Jährige kämpfte sich am Grand Colombier mit Blut und Löchern auf dem Trikot zurück ans Feld.
tagesspiegel · about 6 hours ago
Titelkämpfe in Spanien: Triathletin Tertsch holt über olympische Distanz EM-Gold Lisa Tertsch freut sich über den EM-Titel. Auf ihren starken Endspurt kann sich die Triathlon-Weltmeisterin verlassen.
tagesspiegel · about 6 hours ago
Ο πρίγκιπας Λούις έκλεψε την παράσταση στο Trooping the Colour με τις αντιδράσεις του στην αεροπορική επίδειξη της RAF Ο Λούις εμφανίστηκε εμφανώς ενθουσιασμένος, παρακολουθώντας με το στόμα ανοιχτό και σκύβοντας για να έχει καλύτερη οπτική επαφή
protothema · about 6 hours ago
Del Toro anula el ataque de Ayuso en el Grand Colombier y Seixas se va al suelo El australiano Luke Tuckwell se mantiene líder de la clasificación general
la vanguardia · about 7 hours ago
Barcelona F1: Russell näitas võimu, Antonelli ei mahtunud esiritta, Hamilton tagasi pildil Vormel 1 sarja seitsmes etapp sõidetakse sel nädalal Hispaanias Barcelona ringrajal. Tänase kvalifikatsiooni võitis George Russell (Mercedes), tema tiimikaaslane ja viis Grand Prixd järjest võitnud Kimi Antonelli stardib homme alles kolmandalt kohalt.
postimees · about 7 hours ago
Raducanu blasts away fitness doubts with two wins in a day to reach Queens final British No 1 defeats Iva Jovic 6-2, 6-2Raducanu to face Donna Vekic in finalEmma Raducanu returned to Andy Murray Arena for her second match in five hours with lingering doubts about her physical condition after slipping on the slick grass earlier in the day and hurting her left thigh. By the time she had launched herself into consecutive backhand and forehand down-the-line winners to snatch an early break, that concern had dissipated.What followed was one of her very best matches as she dismantled the talented 18-year-old Iva Jovic 6-2, 6-2 in front of an ebullient home crowd to reach the final here. Continue reading...
theguardian · about 7 hours ago
Verstappen zit met vragen na redelijke kwalificatie in Spanje: Miste ritme in Q3 Max Verstappen weet niet hoe het kan dat hij in de kwalificatie voor de Grand Prix van Barcelona-Catalonië nog bijna in de top drie eindigde. De Red Bull-coureur, die zondag als vijfde start, had veel meer snelheid in zijn auto dan tijdens de trainingen.
nu.nl · about 7 hours ago
Pool Majchrzak verslaat Medvedev en bereikt finale in Rosmalen Tennisser Daniil Medvedev is er niet in geslaagd om de finale van het Libéma Open te bereiken. De 30-jarige Rus moest in de halve finale zijn meerdere erkennen in Kamil Majchrzak. De Pool won in twee sets (7-6 (4) 6-1) en neemt het in de finale op tegen de Australiër Alex de Minaur.
rtl nieuws · about 7 hours ago
Belarra se hace un Pablo Iglesias y salta a Madrid para ser la candidata electoral de Podemos contra Ayuso Emula el movimiento del ex líder morado en 2021, quien fracasó y dejó la política / El partido no tiene escaños en la Asamblea de Madrid y el reto es entrar Leer
elmundo · about 7 hours ago
Kajakář Dostál zůstává na trati 500 metrů stříbrný. Poláci na mistrovství Evropy uspěli s protestem Kajakář Josef Dostál se na mistrovství Evropy vrátil na druhé místo v závodě na 500 metrů. Polská výprava uspěla s protestem proti diskvalifikaci vítěze Alexe Boruckého. Nakonec tak platí výsledky, které byly v cíli, informoval český tým z dějiště šampionátu Montemoru-o-Velho. Stříbrnou medaili by měl Dostál dostat v neděli, dnes se ceremoniál neuskutečnil.
irozhlas.cz · about 7 hours ago
Verstappen begint GP Barcelona als vijfde, Russell houdt Hamilton van pole Max Verstappen heeft zich zaterdag als vijfde gekwalificeerd voor de Grand Prix van Barcelona-Catalonië. De Red Bull-coureur kwam sterker voor de dag dan in de trainingen, maar het was niet genoeg voor een plek in de top drie. George Russell pakte poleposition.
nu.nl · about 8 hours ago
George Russell bounces back in style to claim pole at Barcelona-Catalunya F1 GP Im just glad to feel myself again … at one with the carLewis Hamilton second ahead of Kimi AntonelliIs George Russells run of rotten luck finally over? The Mercedes driver said he felt like my old self again after scorching to pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. He was fractionally faster than second-placed Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, who nearly snatched top spot with a dramatic surge at the last, capitalising on what is clearly a significant upgrade to the Scuderia machine.Kimi Antonelli, Russells 19-year-old teammate, will aim for a sixth consecutive victory from third on the grid while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari said there were no excuses and that he felt very ashamed after crashing out spectacularly in Q3 and causing a red flag – a week after hitting a wall at his home race in Monaco. Continue reading...
theguardian · about 8 hours ago