With the Australian Open now over, attention must turn back to the everyday annals of the tennis tour.
In fact, most have already begun competing in tournaments, whether that be in Abu Dhabi or Transylvania.
This sport is relentless, and there is seldom time to relax.
However, once a player decides to retire and end a career forever, the peace and quiet it affords might not be for everyone.
Do you think women should play best-of-five set matches?
Particularly on the women’s side, there have been countless high-profile examples of players who have taken large breaks or even retired completely before returning to the sport.
Now, there are suggestions that Simona Halep could follow suit.
Simona Halep considers a tennis comeback
The two-time Grand Slam champion has been speaking ahead of the Transylvania Open in her home country, reflecting on her glittering career.
And, in a recent conversation with PRO TV News, Halep has now made a bold claim that could hint at a return to tennis.
She claimed: “It was a difficult moment when I announced my retirement, but it was also a pleasant moment, because I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore.
“I thought the time would come soon, because physically I was no longer fit for a high level. I told myself it was much better to retire and take care of my body, but it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, one hundred percent.
“I was exhausted after my entire career, but now I’m fresh, I feel like I want to get back into tennis as much as possible, and I’m glad I can start, being at the Transylvania Open, the place where I stopped playing tennis.”
Simona Halep retired suddenly in 2025 after a first-round exit at this very event, the Transylvania Open.
Simona Halep’s impressive Grand Slam record
Given the fact that it was a year since she called time on her career, it would likely not take the 34-year-old all that long to return to full fitness.
And, given how Venus Williams has been performing of late at the age of 45, she stands as sparkling proof that age is no limit.
Halep enjoyed a stellar career and would become another big draw for the WTA were she to return.
Who wins more Grand Slams in their career – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
Upon retiring last year, she had won two Grand Slam titles and reached a further three finals.
However, the greatest triumph of Halep’s career undoubtedly came at Wimbledon, where she comprehensively beat Serena Williams in the final, 6-2, 6-2, to claim her second and last major title.
She finished with 112 major wins and just 44 losses, marking a 72% win rate on the biggest stage in tennis.
