Tennis: Simona Halep to have her retirement match against Elina Svitolina in Cluj-Napoca
Former world number one in women's tennis, Simona Halep, on Saturday told a press conference in Cluj that she is feeling very emotional ahead of her retirement match, which will take place later today as part of the Sports Festival in this city.
'It is an event full of emotion. I have been emotional since I arrived in Cluj, because everything is about my career, about the people who have supported me, this wonderful crowd who gave me the most beautiful moments, playing here in Cluj for Romania and in individual tournaments. It is a pleasure, an honour, a source of pride, and I would like to take this opportunity once again to thank Patrick Ciorcila, for making this event possible, this day which somehow brings a cycle of my life to a close, an important cycle, perhaps the most important so far, because tennis has been my life. He does an extraordinary job with the Sports Festival and with WTA tournaments. Congratulations, Patrick, best of luck, and we look forward to as many more such beautiful and emotional events as possible,' said Simona Halep.
She also spoke about the two Grand Slam tournaments she won and the emotional weight they carried at the time.
'The Roland Garros trophy carried much more emotional weight, because I had already lost three finals, and finally managing to win a Grand Slam was a fulfilment, a release of pressure, and proof that I was capable of winning a Grand Slam, even though I had not succeeded before, having lost three finals. (...) Of course, each has its importance, Wimbledon is the most prestigious tournament and I can't say I expected so much to win on grass, because we don't have grass courts in Romania, but year by year I played better and my confidence grew, and beating Serena on grass was something special. I would place them both on the same level, I don't want to make distinctions between them, but still, Roland Garros carried more emotional weight,' said Simona Halep.
Simona Halep will also play her retirement match on Saturday, at the Polyvalent Hall in Cluj-Napoca, against Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina.
The retirement match takes place as part of the seventh edition of the Sports Festival, which runs from June 11-14. Among the participants in the Sports Festival is the great former gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who will hold a masterclass on Sunday. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Marius Septimiu Avram; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)
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