The Romanian Tennis Federation (FRT) announced on Tuesday, June 3, that the National Tennis Center in Bucharest will officially be renamed the Simona Halep National Tennis Center. The decision honors the remarkable career and contributions of one of Romania’s greatest tennis players.
In a statement, the FRT explained the renaming as a tribute to Halep, who brought prestigious titles to Romania and represented her country with dignity on the global tennis stage. “This initiative recognizes her exceptional achievements and the significant role she played in promoting Romanian tennis worldwide,” the federation said.
A Legendary Career
Simona Halep, 33, retired from professional tennis in February 2025. Her final match ended in a first-round loss to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca.
Halep’s career was nothing short of extraordinary. She won two Grand Slam titles: the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019. She also reached five Grand Slam finals, including three at Roland Garros (2014, 2017, and 2018) and one at the Australian Open (2018). Halep first claimed the world No. 1 ranking on October 9, 2017, and held the top spot for a total of 64 weeks.
Throughout her career, Halep secured 24 singles titles and one doubles title, alongside 19 other final appearances.
A Difficult Period and Triumph Over Adversity
Halep faced a challenging period between August 29, 2022, and March 19, 2024, when she was suspended from competition following a provisional ban for a positive doping test at the 2022 US Open. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later ruled in her favor, reducing the suspension imposed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) from four years to nine months. The case was linked to a contaminated supplement, and Halep was cleared of intentional wrongdoing.
Simona Halep’s Enduring Legacy
Renaming the National Tennis Center in her honor is a fitting tribute to Halep’s lasting impact on tennis. Her remarkable achievements, dedication to the sport, and role in elevating Romanian tennis will forever be remembered as an inspiration to future generations of athletes.
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