After pulling down the curtain on her pro tennis career in early 2025, Simona Halep hasn’t quite stepped away from Wimbledon in spirit — or from the grass she loves. The two-time Grand Slam champion has received a warm invitation back to the All England Club, but not as a competitor this time. Former doubles great Horia Tecău has asked Halep to partner with him in the Wimbledon Legends’ event. “I’ve already told her I want to play with her,” Tecău said.
This is especially meaningful for fans of “Simo,” since Wimbledon holds a special place in her heart. Her best moment there came in 2019, when Halep defeated Serena Williams in the final, in dominant fashion, to win the singles title. It remains one of her career’s shining highlights.
Even after retirement, Halep hasn’t been fully away from tennis. She recently played some exhibition tennis, including a session with Tecău lasting about an hour. She jokingly mentioned that it gave her a “beautiful blister.” That little injury aside, she also spoke about how she still misses certain feelings of the sport — the movement, the court, the competition — though physically, things aren’t what they used to be, especially her legs and her movement. She said she doesn’t feel like she “stopped playing a long time ago, in terms of game … but physically … I feel it.”
Halep will also be a guest in the Royal Box for the 2025 Ladies’ Singles Final at Wimbledon, returning to the familiar sights and sounds of the tournament she once conquered. It’s a recognition of her place in Wimbledon’s recent history, and a chance for fans to reconnect with one of their champions in a more ceremonial way.
So what does this mean? For one, it shows that retirement doesn’t always mean total goodbye — especially for legends like Halep. There’s room for celebration, for friendship, for echoes of past brilliance in less competitive settings. For fans, it’s wonderful: you get to see someone who played with such heart and intensity come back, even if just for moments, to the stage she once dominated. For Halep herself, it seems like a gentle way to acknowledge what tennis has given her — and what she still loves about it — without the physical toll of life on tour.
In short: Wimbledon is calling Halep back — not as a contender, but as a celebrated legend. And with Horia Tecău hoping to hit the grass with her again, it promises to be a heartwarming reunion.
