Halep memorably won her first major title at the French Open in 2018, defeating Sloane Stephens, having lost her previous three Grand Slam finals.

She then won at Wimbledon in 2019, committing just three unforced errors in a stunning final victory over Serena Williams.

She won 22 other WTA Tour titles and spent 64 weeks as world number one.

Halep was given a four-year ban for two separate doping offences after initially testing positive for a banned substance in August 2022.

She always maintained her innocence and appealed against the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2024.

The panel ruled Halep, “on the balance of probabilities”, had not taken roxadustat intentionally and her ban was reduced to nine months.

She subsequently returned to the WTA Tour in March 2024 but played just six matches through to 2025 and won only once.

“I’ve always been realistic with myself and with my body,” Halep said.

“Where I probably was, it’s very hard to get there and I know what it means to get there.”