WTA: Halep:”It’s an honor.”

Simona Halep has made it: At the end of the year, the Romanian will be number one in the WTA World Ranking list and will not clear the spot until next year.

The 26-year-old joins the illustrious circle of 13 players who finished the year as number one in the Open Era and WTA history. Since the 9. October 2017 Halep is at the top of the women’s world ranking and will not give up this place until the end of the year. In the American St. Petersburg, Florida, the 26-year-old was honored by the WTA and presented with a trophy. Halep is also the first Romanian woman to finish the year as the best in the tennis circuit.

With the title at the Mutua Madrid Open, the final in Rome, Cincinnati, Beijing and the second title match at a Grand Slam Tournament in Paris, the woman from Constanta plays a constant season and secured her fourth place at the WTA finals in Singapore. In the group stage, the Romanian defeated Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki, who later won the group stage.

Dubai Duty-Free Colm McLoughlin was full of praise for Halep at the ceremony in Florida:”We congratulate Simona Halep, who is a worthy world number one at the end of the year with the title in Madrid and the final at the French Open,”said McLoughlin.

“I am very proud of this achievement. I have worked very hard all year round to get the best out of myself. It’s an honor to be in this position of the year,”Halep said after the trophy was handed over.

On the 27th. January 2014, Halep made it to the top ten players in the world for the first time and has been growing ever since. The 26-year-old’s top 5 ranked only a few weeks later and has since then consistently been among the top five players in the world, with the exception of eight weeks.

Halep’s playing distinguishes itself above all by her enormous physique and strong footwork. Despite her 1.68-metre body height, the Romanian is one of the most powerful troughs in the world. In addition to a solid backhand, her dangerous forehand whip stands out above all else. The Romanian woman’s will is also unique: only a few days after a torn ligament in the ankle joint, Halep stood on the court again and bit her teeth.

The world ranking list of women