Simona Halep opens on how close she was from retiring

Former world No. 1 Simona Halep admitted she was close to retiring after the 2021 season as she was unsure whether she could get back to her pre-injury level.

Last year, a calf injury forced Halep to skip the French Open, Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics.

Missing three major events was a difficult pill to swallow for Halep and it put her in a bit of a dark place.

After a challenging 2021 season, Halep started 2022 by winning the Melbourne Summer Set 1.

This month, Halep announced Patrick Mouratoglou as her new full-time coach.

When discussing her decision to hire Mouratoglou, Halep noted it’s because she wants to return to winning Grand Slams.

Halep: The fire inside me is back

ā€œI thought at 30 I would be done and I was close to be done this year,ā€ Halep toldĀ  Alize Lim for Tennis Majorsā€™ show ā€œMajor Talkā€. ā€œActually 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.

ā€œBut then 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.ā€

Halep, who captured her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2018 French Open, is aiming to win her third Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year.

ā€œI didnā€™t believe I would come back at the same level after the injury, because I was off about four months,ā€ she said. ā€œI had never been off four months from tennis, so I struggled big time last year. And also I thought at 30 itā€™s a good age to retire. I always thought about it but probably it was always in my mind.

ā€œI would really love to have kids but they can wait a bit more because I have this pleasure I donā€™t want to give up.ā€