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Simona Halep

Simona Halep is a Romanian former professional tennis player.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Simona Halep is a Romanian former professional tennis player. She won two Grand Slam singles titles, reached world No. 1 in the WTA rankings, and was one of the leading players of her era. Halep retired from professional tennis in 2025 after her final match in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Career

Halep became one of the most successful players on the WTA Tour, building a reputation for consistency and baseline defence. Her major highlights included two Grand Slam titles and multiple top-tier WTA titles across several seasons.

Rankings and achievements

She first reached world No. 1 in October 2017 and remained one of the dominant players of the late 2010s. WTA sources note that she spent eight top-10 seasons and finished among the tour's top prize-money earners.

Doping suspension and return

Halep faced an anti-doping suspension after a positive test in 2022. Her sanction was later reduced on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2024, and she returned to competition before retiring in 2025.

Personal life and philanthropy

Outside tennis, Halep has been involved in charitable work through the Simona Halep Foundation, founded in 2019. The foundation focuses on projects in sport, health, and education.

Key facts

  • Simona Halep won the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
  • She reached world No. 1 in October 2017 and won 24 WTA singles titles.
  • Halep faced a doping suspension in 2022, reduced on appeal in 2024.
  • She retired in 2025 after her final match in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
  • Halep founded the Simona Halep Foundation in 2019 for sport, health, and education.
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Canadian context

Halep’s career is relevant to Canadian readers through her appearances at major international tournaments held in Canada, including the Canadian Open, where she won titles during her career.[8]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Simona Halep?
Simona Halep is a Romanian former professional tennis player best known for winning two Grand Slam singles titles and reaching world No. 1.
What Grand Slam titles did she win?
She won the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
When was she world No. 1?
Halep reached the WTA world No. 1 ranking on 9 October 2017.
When did she retire?
She retired in 2025 after playing her final match in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
How many WTA titles did she win?
Halep won 24 WTA singles titles.
Did she have an anti-doping suspension?
Yes. She was suspended after a positive test in 2022, and the sanction was later reduced on appeal in 2024.

References

  1. WTAhttps://www.wtatennis.com/players/314320/simona-halep
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, handedness, ranking context, career notes, foundation, retirement mention.
  2. Tennis.comhttps://www.tennis.com/news/articles/simona-halep-retires
    Supports: Retirement in 2025, two Grand Slam titles, world No. 1 status, and career overview.
  3. Mouratoglou Academyhttps://www.mouratoglou.com/en/Professionals/simona-halep/
    Supports: Two Grand Slam titles, former world No. 1, and playing style.
  4. ESPNhttps://www.espn.com/tennis/player/_/id/936/simona-halep
    Supports: Turned pro in 2006, nationality, birthplace, height, and player profile.
  5. Tennis Majorshttps://www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-news/simona-halep-who-she-is-really-79872.html
    Supports: Career titles, Grand Slam wins, suspension, appeal outcome, and retirement context.