Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has revealed that she was closed quitting the sport last season after an injury lay-off which made her doubt if she could return to her best form again.
In 2021 Halep missed three months of action due to a calf injury that she sustained whilst playing in Rome. The setback forced her to miss two Grand Slam events, as well as the Tokyo Olympic Games. Then at the end of the season she withdrew from the Linz Open due to a knee problem. At the time the Romanian was already considering her future in the sport as she openly admits during an interview with Tennis Majors that she thought she would stop playing around the age of 30.
“I thought at 30 I would be done and I was close to be done this year,” Halep told Major Talk. “Actually last year, as well, after the injury I had.’
“At the beginning of the year (2022) I was a little bit better but still not very confident so I thought it may be the last period I could play tennis.”
The 30-year-old said she has managed to rediscover the ‘fire’ in her game once again by practicing at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France. It was during her time at the facility where she started to collaborate with Patrick Mouratoglou who ended his partnership with Serena Williams in order to coach Halep.
“I discovered this academy, I discovered something, the fire is back in my inside for tennis. Seeing the kids here doing everything possible to be at the top, I have it back. I needed that, to see in other people, in other kids, and I have it back.” She explained.
Halep approaches the upcoming clay swing with a win-loss record of 15-4 so far this year. At the start of the season she won her 23rd Tour title at the Melbourne Summer Set. Since then, she has also reached the semi-finals of tournaments in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Currently ranked 21st in the world, Halep already has plans for life beyond tennis which includes having children. However, at the moment her focus continues to be on the sport.
“I didn’t believe I would come back at the same level after the injury, because I was off about four months,” she reflected. “I had never been off four months from tennis, so I struggled big time last year. And also I thought at 30 it’s a good age to retire. I always thought about it but probably it was always in my mind.
“I would really love to have kids but they can wait a bit more because I have this pleasure I don’t want to give up.”
Halep will return to action on Thursday at the Madrid Open where she will play China’s Zhang Shuai in the first round.
