Anastasia Potapova took a second to pay a really stunning tribute to house favourite Simona Halep after profitable Cluj-Napoca in Romania, recalling how she used to look as much as the previous world No. 1 and wishing her all the perfect.
On Sunday, the Russian – who was the No. 1 seed – recovered from a set right down to beat Lucia Bronzetti 4-6 6-1 6-2 within the Transylvania Open remaining.
Anastasia Potapova© Transylvania Open/Instagram – Honest Use
However earlier than the Russian beat Bronzetti, it was the 26-year-old Italian who beat Halep 6-1 6-1 within the Cluj-Napoca – in a match after the two-time Grand Slam champion introduced her retirement.
Simply earlier than the match began, the Romanian revealed to native reporters that she was coping with a really severe knee harm and hinted at retiring.
After assembly the 33-year-old in Cluj-Napova, Potapova instructed the Romanian tennis icon that she was rooting for her to get wholesome and return to her previous stage.
Potapova’s tribute to Halep
“The last thing I want to say, Simona is the one I’ve always looked up to,” the 2025 Cluj-Napoca winner said on the court following her triumph.
“She’s been one of my idols all the time. At the start of the week, I wished her to come back to where she should be.
“When I saw that she decided to finish her career, I felt really sad. But she achieved something I can’t even dream about… yet.
“For me she will always stay a champion. I wish that she enjoys life after tennis. She deserves it completely.”
Anastasia Potapova stated some stunning phrases about Simona Halep’s retirement after profitable Cluj:
“The very last thing I need to say, Simona is the one I’ve at all times seemed as much as. She’s been certainly one of my idols on a regular basis. Initially of the week I wanted her to come back again to the place she… pic.twitter.com/hV59r76I3q
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 9, 2025
When saying her resolution to stroll away from professional tennis, Halep stated it was stuffed with each “joy and sadness.”
Additionally, she famous that she was “always realistic” with herself and that the harm was simply too severe for her to proceed her profession.
In the meantime, Potapova improved to a few WTA titles after profitable Cluj-Napoca.
