Simona Halep is a Romanian professional tennis player who achieved the world No. 1 ranking in singles twice between 2017 and 2019, holding the top spot for a total of 64 weeks, the 12th longest streak in WTA history. She was also the year-end No. 1 player in both 2017 and 2018. Her career highlights include winning two Grand Slam singles titles: the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
1975: Chris Evert's Reign Begins
In 1975, Chris Evert began her dominant run in women's tennis, holding the world No. 1 ranking for part of the year.
1976: Evonne Goolagong's Short Reign
Evonne Goolagong Cawley briefly held the world No. 1 ranking in 1976.
1978: Martina Navratilova's Rise
Martina Navratilova began her journey towards becoming a dominant force in women's tennis in 1978, marking the start of her first reign as world No. 1.
1980: Tracy Austin's Reign
Tracy Austin achieved the world No. 1 ranking in 1980.
1985: Chris Evert's Reign Ends
Chris Evert's time as world No.1 ended in 1985 after a remarkable career.
1986: Steffi Graf's Achievement
In 1986, Steffi Graf became the first woman since to win her first six career titles in the same season, a feat later matched by Simona Halep.
1987: Steffi Graf's Era Begins
Steffi Graf's impressive career as a world No. 1 began in 1987.
September 1991: Birth and Family Background
Simona Halep was born in September 1991 in Constanța, Romania, to Stere and Tania Halep. Her father played football and later owned a dairy products factory.
September 1991: Birth of Simona Halep
Simona Halep was born in September 1991 in Constanța, Romania.
1991: Monica Seles Emerges
Monica Seles entered the women's tennis scene and reached the world No. 1 ranking in 1991.
1995: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario's Short Reign
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario held the world No. 1 spot briefly in 1995.
1996: Monica Seles' Reign Ends
1996 marked the end of Monica Seles' time as world No. 1.
1997: Martina Hingis's Achievement
In 1997, Martina Hingis reached her maiden Grand Slam final without dropping a set at the Australian Open, a feat later matched by Simona Halep at the 2014 French Open.
1997: Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf's Reign
Both Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf held the No. 1 ranking at different points throughout 1997.
1998: Lindsay Davenport's Reign Begins
Lindsay Davenport's journey as world No. 1 began in 1998.
2001: Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis Share the Top Spot
Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis both held the world No. 1 ranking at some point during 2001.
2002: Venus and Serena Williams Rise to the Top
Venus and Serena Williams made their marks, both achieving the world No. 1 ranking in 2002.
2003: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin Begin Their Reign
Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin both started their journeys as world No. 1 in 2003.
2004: Amélie Mauresmo's Reign Begins
Amélie Mauresmo's time as a world No. 1 player commenced in 2004.
2005: Junior Career Beginnings
Halep started playing on the ITF Junior Circuit at age 13 in 2005.
2005: Maria Sharapova's Reign Begins
Maria Sharapova started her journey as world No. 1 in 2005.
2006: Professional Debut
Halep began her professional tennis career in 2006.
2006: Lindsay Davenport's Reign Ends
Lindsay Davenport's last year holding the world No. 1 ranking concluded in 2006.
May 2007: First ITF Titles
Halep won her first ITF singles and doubles titles in Bucharest in May 2007.
2007: First Grade 1 Title and Junior Grand Slam Debut
In 2007, Halep won her first Grade 1 title and made her debut in junior Grand Slam tournaments.
June 2008: First $25k Singles Title
Halep won her first $25,000 singles title in Sweden in June 2008.
2008: Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Janković, and Justine Henin's Reign
Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Janković, and Justine Henin all held the world No. 1 spot at different points in 2008.
2008: Junior Grand Slam Title and World No. 1 Ranking
Halep won the French Open junior title and became the top-ranked junior in the world in 2008.
2008: Start of Coaching with Firicel Tomai
Simona Halep began working with coach Firicel Tomai in 2008.
2009: Dinara Safina and Jelena Janković at No. 1
Dinara Safina and Jelena Janković were both ranked world No. 1 at different points during 2009.
2009: First Top 100 Victory and Top 200 Debut
In 2009, Halep defeated a top 100 player for the first time and made her debut in the top 200 of the WTA rankings.
2009: WTA 1000 Finals Record
Since 2009, Serena Williams and Simona Halep are tied for the most WTA 1000 finals appearances.
April 2010: WTA Debut and Early Success
Simona Halep made her WTA Tour main-draw debut in April 2010, reaching the quarterfinals in her first tournament. She also made her first career final at the Morocco Open, finishing as runner-up. These results helped her ranking rise significantly.
2010: Caroline Wozniacki's Reign Begins
Caroline Wozniacki's rise to the top started in 2010 when she first achieved the world No. 1 ranking.
2011: First Grand Slam Matches and Top 20 Victory
In 2011, Halep won her first Grand Slam matches at the Australian Open and reached the final of the Morocco Open for the second consecutive year. She also recorded her first top 20 victory at the Rogers Cup.
2011: Top 50 Debut
Halep first broke into the world's top 50 at the end of 2011.
2011: Kim Clijsters' Reign Ends
2011 marked the end of Kim Clijsters' time holding the world No. 1 ranking.
2012: Consistent Ranking and First Premier Final
Halep maintained a consistent ranking in 2012, finishing the year at No. 47. She reached the semifinals at the Morocco Open and the final of the Brussels Open, her first at the Premier level.
2012: Consistent Ranking and First Premier Final
In 2012, Simona Halep maintained a steady ranking, reaching the semifinals of the Morocco Open and the final of the Brussels Open, her first at the Premier level. She finished the year ranked No. 47 for the second consecutive year.
2012: Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka Share the Top Spot
Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka each held the No. 1 ranking during 2012.
2012: 2012 Season
Simona Halep did not win a WTA singles title in the 2012 season.
August 2013: Top 20 Debut
Halep broke into the top 20 of the WTA rankings in August 2013.
2013: Coaching Change to Adrian Marcu
After five years with Tomai, Halep switched to coach Adrian Marcu in 2013.
2013: Transition to Aggressive Baseline Style
In 2013, Simona Halep transitioned her play style to a more aggressive baseline game, incorporating powerful shots and disrupting opponents' rhythm while maintaining her defensive skills.
2013: Victoria Azarenka's Reign Ends
Victoria Azarenka's time as world No. 1 player concluded in 2013.
January 2014: Drop from Top 10
In January 2014, Simona Halep dropped out of the top 10 of the WTA rankings.
January 2014: Top 10 Debut
Halep entered the top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time in January 2014, beginning a long streak within the top 10.
May 2014: Adidas Sponsorship Begins
Simona Halep's sponsorship with Adidas started in May 2014.
November 2014: Vodafone Romania Sponsorship Begins
Simona Halep began a three-year sponsorship deal with Vodafone Romania in November 2014.
2014: WTA Most Popular Player of the Year
Halep was voted as the WTA's Most Popular Player of the Year in 2014.
2014: Grand Slam Breakthrough and Top 10 Debut
In 2014, Halep reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open and entered the top 10. She won the Qatar Open and reached the finals of the Madrid Open and French Open, becoming the highest-ranked Romanian in WTA history.
2014: WTA Most Popular Player of the Year
Simona Halep was named the WTA Most Popular Player of the Year in 2014.
2014: Coaching Change to Wim Fissette
Halep hired her first non-Romanian coach, Wim Fissette, at the beginning of 2014.
2014: Consistent Top 5 Finishes
From 2014 onwards, Simona Halep consistently finished each year within the top 5 of the WTA rankings.
2015: WTA Most Popular Player of the Year
Halep was again named WTA Most Popular Player of the Year in 2015.
2015: WTA Most Popular Player of the Year
Halep was again recognized as the WTA's Most Popular Player of the Year in 2015.
2015: Titles and Early Exits
Simona Halep started 2015 strong, winning titles at the Shenzhen Open, Dubai Tennis Championships, and Indian Wells Open. However, she suffered early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon.
2016: 2016 Season Overview
Simona Halep's 2016 season was marked by both setbacks and triumphs. She experienced early losses, including a first-round exit at the Australian Open and quarterfinal defeats at Indian Wells and Miami, causing her ranking to drop. However, she bounced back by winning the Madrid Open, her second Premier Mandatory title. Despite losses at the French Open and Wimbledon, her performance in Madrid marked a significant turning point in her season.
2016: Start of Coaching with Darren Cahill
Simona Halep started working with coach Darren Cahill in 2016.
2016: Hublot and Dorna Sponsorships
In 2016, Halep secured sponsorships with international watch brand Hublot and Romanian water brand Dorna.
2016: Angelique Kerber's Reign Begins
Angelique Kerber's first time as world No. 1 started in 2016.
2017: Mercedes-Benz Romania Brand Ambassador
Halep became a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Romania in 2017.
2017: French Open Finalist
Halep reached the final of the French Open in 2017, but did not win.
2017: WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player
Halep received the WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player award in 2017.
2017: WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year
Halep received the honor of WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year in 2017.
2017: 2017 Season Overview
In 2017, Halep reached the semifinals at the Canadian Open and finished as runner-up at the Cincinnati Open. Despite a first-round loss at the US Open to Maria Sharapova, she reached the final of the China Open, where she lost to Caroline Garcia. Notably, Halep achieved the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in 2017, becoming the first Romanian woman to hold this position. She ended the year as world No. 1 despite not advancing past the round-robin stage at the WTA Finals.
2017: Serena Williams and Simona Halep at No. 1
Serena Williams' long reign and Simona Halep's more recent ascent to the world No. 1 position are noted for 2017.
2017: World No. 1 Ranking
Simona Halep achieved the World No. 1 ranking in singles for the first time in 2017.
February 2018: Nike Sponsorship Begins
Simona Halep signed a sponsorship deal with Nike in February 2018 after competing at the Australian Open without a sponsor.
2018: Top Returner Ranking
Simona Halep's strong return game was highlighted in 2018, ranking highly in various return statistics.
2018: Australian Open Runner-Up
In 2018, Simona Halep reached the final of the Australian Open but finished as the runner-up.
2018: French Open Champion and Year-End No. 1
In 2018, Halep won her first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open and finished the year as the world No. 1.
2018: WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year
Halep was named as the WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year in 2018.
2018: Australian Open Finalist
Halep finished as the runner-up at the 2018 Australian Open.
2018: French Open Victory and Cahill's Departure
Halep achieved a significant milestone by winning the 2018 French Open under Cahill's guidance, after which Cahill left the team.
2018: French Open Celebration
Following her 2018 French Open victory, a large celebration was held for Halep at the Arena Națională in Bucharest.
2018: Caroline Wozniacki's Reign Ends
Caroline Wozniacki's time as world No. 1 ended in 2018.
2019: Wimbledon Celebration
A large celebration was held for Halep at the Arena Națională in Bucharest after her 2019 Wimbledon win.
2019: WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year
For the third year in a row, Halep earned the WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year award in 2019.
2019: Wimbledon Champion and Victory Over Serena Williams
Halep defeated Serena Williams to win the 2019 Wimbledon Championship.
2019: 2019 Season Overview
Halep's 2019 season began with losses at the Sydney International and the Australian Open, where she lost the No. 1 ranking. She reached the final of the Qatar Open but lost to Elise Mertens. She also made the semifinals at the Miami Open. On clay, she reached the final of the Madrid Open, but lost to Kiki Bertens. She had a disappointing French Open, losing in the quarterfinals to Amanda Anisimova and falling to No. 8 in the rankings.
2019: Daniel Dobre Becomes Coach and Wimbledon Win
In 2019, Daniel Dobre became Halep's coach, leading her to victory at Wimbledon.
2019: Wimbledon Victory
Simona Halep surprised many by winning the 2019 Wimbledon title, despite not being known as a strong grass-court player.
2019: Wimbledon Champion
Simona Halep won her second Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon in 2019.
2019: 2019 Wimbledon
Simona Halep won the 2019 Wimbledon Championship.
2019: Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, and Ashleigh Barty Achieve No. 1
Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, and Ashleigh Barty all held the world No. 1 ranking at different times throughout 2019.
2020: 2020 Season Highlights
Halep won three WTA titles in 2020: Dubai, Prague, and the Italian Open. She was considered a favorite at the French Open but lost in the fourth round to Iga Świątek, missing the opportunity to regain the No. 1 ranking. The season was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Start of 2020 Season
In 2020, Halep started the season at the Adelaide International, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Aryna Sabalenka. At the Australian Open, she made it to the semifinals, where she was defeated by Garbiñe Muguruza.
August 2021: End of Top 10 Streak
Halep's streak of 373 consecutive weeks in the top 10 ended in August 2021.
September 2021: End of Coaching with Darren Cahill and Return of Adrian Marcu and Daniel Dobre
In September 2021, Halep ended her coaching relationship with Darren Cahill and brought back Adrian Marcu and Daniel Dobre to her team.
September 2021: Marriage to Gabriel Iuruc
Simona Halep married businessman Gabriel Iuruc in September 2021.
2021: Early 2021 Season and Injury
Halep began 2021 with quarterfinal appearances at Gippsland and the Australian Open, losing to Serena Williams in the latter. After withdrawing from Miami with a shoulder injury, she reached the semifinals in Stuttgart. She lost early in Madrid and then suffered a calf injury during the Italian Open.
2021: Late 2021 Season and US Open Return
Halep returned from injury but lost early in Canada. She won a match in Cincinnati but withdrew with another injury. At the US Open, she reached the fourth round but lost to Elina Svitolina. Halep finished the year ranked No. 20, her lowest year-end ranking since 2012, and didn't win a title for the first time since that year.
May 2022: Patrick Mouratoglou Joins Coaching Team
Following inconsistent results, Simona Halep hired Patrick Mouratoglou as her coach in May 2022.
September 2022: Divorce and Nose Surgery
Simona Halep announced her divorce from Gabriel Iuruc and underwent nose surgery in September 2022.
October 2022: Suspension from WTA Tour
In October 2022, Simona Halep was suspended from the WTA Tour following a positive test for a banned substance.
2022: Ashleigh Barty and Iga Świątek Share the Top
Ashleigh Barty and Iga Świątek were both ranked world No. 1 at some point during 2022.
2022: Start of 2022 Season and Coaching Change
Halep started 2022 by winning the Melbourne Summer Set 1 title. She reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. In February, she reached the semifinals in Dubai and lost early in Qatar. She made the semifinals of Indian Wells in March and then began working with Patrick Mouratoglou as her full-time coach.
2023: Aryna Sabalenka's Rise to No. 1
Aryna Sabalenka achieved the world No. 1 ranking in 2023.
2024: Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka at No. 1
Both Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka achieved the world No. 1 ranking in 2024.