Turin, 4 Feb (LaPresse) – ‘It has been a beautiful adventure: I have been number one in the world, I have won Slams, in short everything I had always wanted. But life goes on, there is so much more than tennis and I hope that you and I will meet again. I will come to watch tennis as often as I can, of course I will also continue to play but being competitive requires so much more, and that is no longer possible'. With these words Simona Halep announced her retirement from tennis after losing to Lucia Bronzetti with a score of 6-1, 6-1 in the opener of the ‘Transylvania Open’ (WTA 250 – prize money of $275,094) being played on the indoor fast court in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. ‘In these days I often thought about what my future would be,’ said the Romanian player, conditioned by repeated knee problems. ’Tonight I don't know if it's with sadness or joy, or both these feelings. I also felt I had to make this decision because I have always been honest with myself and with my body, which will never be what it was. It is difficult to be here with what that means. That's why I decided to come here to Cluj, to play in front of you and say goodbye on a tennis court. Although my performance was certainly not the best I put my soul into it and I am really happy that you were there to see me. I would be surprised if it wasn't: this was the last time I played here and I don't want to cry.