"I just like to feel at home more time now": Simona Halep explains why she’s not ready to coach yet

Thursday, 06 November 2025 at 06:30

Former World No. 1 Simona Halep was one of the legends present at the WTA Finals in Riyadh during the last week. One of the topics the player, who retired at the beginning of the season, touched upon was whether she would be interested in starting a career as a coach in the future.

Halep is one of the tournament ambassadors, participating in pre-event activities and even taking part in the coin toss for the inaugural match between defending champion Coco Gauff and American No. 5 Jessica Pegula — two players she faced several times during her career.

The Romanian participated in the WTA Finals five times, with her best result being the 2014 final, where she ended up losing to Serena Williams. In her subsequent four appearances, she never progressed past the Round Robin.

The 2-time Grand Slam champion was asked about the possibility of working as a coach in the future, following a successful career in which she reached World No. 1 — finishing at the top in 2017 and 2018, totaling 24 titles including two Grand Slams and nine WTA 1000 titles.

Halep was characterized throughout her career as one of the Tour's most fierce competitors, always bringing an extra level of fight to her matches. The Romanian, however, is currently enjoying her rest away from the courts, something she hopes to maintain, at least for a while. “Right now no, I’m not thinking about it. Probably in the next years. I don’t have energy to do this. This means to travel again, I just like to feel at home more time now.”

"I miss the adrenaline"

The former World No. 1 stressed that the best part of her time away from the courts is being free from the hectic schedule of training and tournaments she had to attend. “I can just wake up in the morning and not have anything to do. But of course I need this rest. I had so many years working every day. Pressure, the tension, everything, made me a little bit to be burned out.”

“I don't have a schedule anymore. I can just wake up in the morning and not have anything to do. But of course I need this rest. I had so many years working every day. Pressure, the tension, everything, made me a little bit to be burned out. Now I enjoy life and I enjoy the free time.”

One of the topics the Romanian touched upon was how much she misses the pressure of facing the world's best players in the events held throughout the year. "The adrenaline I miss, winning matches, playing matches, the pressure that I had during the matches, all the work for the team, the people around,” she stated.

Halep's doping controversy

Simona Halep finished seven consecutive seasons inside the Top 4 (2014-2020), and only injuries eventually caused her to drop in the rankings. The Romanian — currently 34 years old — re-entered the Top 10 in 2022 after winning the Canadian Open title. However, weeks later, the storm that ended her career began after she tested positive for doping at the US Open.

A suspension was quickly imposed after testing positive for roxadustat. Anomalies in her biological passport were later announced, although Halep always defended her innocence. After 11 months of suspension — in September 2023 — the trial for the Halep case took place, resulting in a 4-year suspension until 2026.

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It was a true controversy that halted the career of the player who was World No. 6 at the time of the positive test. Following Halep's appeals — which took several more months to be heard — the appeal was finally accepted, determining that the positive sample was caused by supplement contamination, allowing Halep to return to the courts immediately.

The Romanian quickly got in shape to return to the courts at the Miami Open after receiving a wildcard — despite having no ranking — but fell in three sets to Paula Badosa. From that point on, injuries continued to plague her, and after a few sporadic appearances, she opted to retire at the Transylvania Open in February of this year.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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