Simona Halep has been through it all, the highs and lows of a tennis career. The Romanian tennis star reached the peak of her career in 2018 and 2019, winning the French Open and Wimbledon respectively. But then, injuries piled up, and a doping scandal threatened everything she had built. Now, at 33 years of age, she is ranked outside the top 800. Is it time for her to hang up the racket?

After two Grand Slams, 24 WTA titles, and a No.1 ranking, Halep has earned the right to be satisfied. The 2-time Grand Slam champion’s journey hit a roadblock in 2022. She tested positive for Roxadustat at the US Open and was initially banned for two years. That suspension was later extended to four years. The Romanian tennis star fought hard and appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and successfully got her ban reduced to nine months. She stepped back onto the WTA Tour in February 2024 after being cleared.

Since her comeback, though, matches have been few and far between. The 33-year-old played her first tournament at the Miami Open in March, where she lost in the opening round. Her second appearance came in October at the Hong Kong Tennis Open, with another early exit. It was a start, but it wasn’t the return she had dreamed of.

The former World No.1 recently got candid about her future. Talking to Golazo.ro, she said, “Of course, I think about retiring, and this goes through my mind very often. I am old, I have injuries that I can’t recover from. My knee is not recovering.”

Continuing further, she added, “I have always said that tennis is not life in its entirety. Of course, I still have many desires and goals in this life after tennis,” she said. “Everything I have done in tennis has been extraordinary, I have worked for it and I feel like a very fulfilled tennis player. I would like to do something else, not just tennis.”

Apart from the doping scandal, a career-threatening knee injury has also caused Halep much trouble.

Simona Halep opens up on the severity of her knee injury

A nagging knee injury has also added to Simona Halep’s struggles. She entered 2025 ranked outside the top 800 but was given a wildcard for the Australian Open qualifiers. However, the former World No. 1 was forced to withdraw due to knee and shoulder issues.

In the same interview, she revealed, “The knee injury I have is quite serious and difficult to recover from. I don’t know if I’m afraid to push myself, but when I feel pain, it’s hard to play at my highest level. It’s very difficult to get back to where I was, especially after such a long break.”

For now, Simona Halep is ready to compete at the 2025 Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. On Monday, February 3, she will take on Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in front of her home crowd. It will be her first match of the season and another test of where she stands.

With injuries and doubts creeping in, this might be the last couple of times we see Halep on the court. How long do you think she will continue? Share your thoughts in the comments below.