Sorana Cirstea says a “piece of me left” with Simona Halep retiring from tennis and that is why the 34-year-old was so emotional throughout a particular ceremony in Cluj-Napoca.
On Tuesday night on the Transylvania Open, Halep performed her first match of the season and misplaced 1-6 1-6 to Lucia Bronzetti.
As a substitute of leaving the courtroom after shedding, the 2019 Wimbledon champion took the microphone as a result of she needed to share one thing with Romanian followers.
And that is when she introduced she was retiring from professional tennis on the age of 33.
Cirstea, a former world No. 24, was additionally on the courtroom and she or he emotionally hugged the two-time Grand Slam champion.
“We know each other since we were 7 years old and shared so much. So tonight I cried because a piece of me went with you,” the 34-year-old wrote on her Instagram Story.
“THANK YOU for everything you have done for our sport, for Romania and for us. Enjoy this new chapter of life champ and see you soon on the other side.”
Sorana Cirstea and Simona Halep© Sorana Cirstea/Instagram – Truthful Use
Halep could not proceed along with her profession as a consequence of a severe harm
When the previous world No. 1 returned to tennis final March, she hoped to attempt to return to her outdated kind and have a optimistic ending to her profession after every little thing that occurred to her within the final couple of years.
However not enjoying for a very long time left a toll on the Romanian and she or he picked up a knee harm shortly after returning to tennis.
And after enjoying in solely 4 tournaments final yr and lacking the beginning of this season, Halep instructed reporters in Cluj-Napoca over the weekend that her knee harm was severe and that she wanted surgical procedure.
“Tonight, I don’t know if it’s with joy or sadness, I think both feelings are trying me but I’m making this decision with my soul,” she mentioned throughout her retirement speech.
“I’ve always been realistic with myself and with my body.”
