Anastasia Potapova took a second to pay a really stunning tribute to residence favourite Simona Halep after profitable Cluj-Napoca in Romania, recalling how she used to look as much as the previous world No. 1 and wishing her all the very best.
On Sunday, the Russian – who was the No. 1 seed – recovered from a set all the way down to beat Lucia Bronzetti 4-6 6-1 6-2 within the Transylvania Open remaining.
However earlier than the Russian beat Bronzetti, it was the 26-year-old Italian who beat Halep 6-1 6-1 within the Cluj-Napoca – in a match after the two-time Grand Slam champion introduced her retirement.
Simply earlier than the event began, the Romanian revealed to native reporters that she was coping with a really critical knee damage and hinted at retiring.
After assembly the 33-year-old in Cluj-Napova, Potapova informed the Romanian tennis icon that she was rooting for her to get wholesome and return to her outdated stage.
Potapova’s tribute to Halep
“The very last thing I wish to say, Simona is the one I’ve all the time seemed as much as,” the 2025 Cluj-Napoca winner mentioned on the court docket following her triumph.
“She’s been one in all my idols on a regular basis. In the beginning of the week, I needed her to come back again to the place she must be.
“Once I noticed that she determined to complete her profession, I felt actually unhappy. However she achieved one thing I can’t even dream about… but.
“For me she is going to all the time keep a champion. I want that she enjoys life after tennis. She deserves it utterly.”
Anastasia Potapova mentioned some stunning phrases about Simona Halep’s retirement after profitable Cluj:
“The very last thing I wish to say, Simona is the one I’ve all the time seemed as much as. She’s been one in all my idols on a regular basis. In the beginning of the week I needed her to come back again to the place she… pic.twitter.com/hV59r76I3q
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 9, 2025
When saying her determination to stroll away from professional tennis, Halep mentioned it was full of each “pleasure and unhappiness.”
Additionally, she famous that she was “all the time reasonable” with herself and that the damage was simply too critical for her to proceed her profession.
In the meantime, Potapova improved to a few WTA titles after profitable Cluj-Napoca.
