WTA: French-Open-Champ Simona Halep triumphantly received at home

Around 15,000 fans gave the new French Open winner Simona Halep an emotional reception in the Bucharest football arena. Among the congratulators were tennis icon Ilie Nastase and football legend Gheorghe Hagi.

Immediately after arriving at Henri Airport Coandă in the Romanian capital, Halep was received by several delegations. The Paris winner had radiantly stepped out of the machine before. Casual dressed – with white T-shirt and black trousers. The world’s number one held a duplicate of her Suzanne Lenglen trophy in her hand.

After the trip to the arena Națională, folk heroine Halep was celebrated by around 15,000 spectators. The national anthem “Deșteaptă-te, române!” was presented live. On one screen, scenes of her greatest success so far were shown, while the Tina Turner Evergreen was performed by Monica Anghel.

“I am overjoyed to be able to share my joy with you”, cried the visibly moved Halep to the fans, who repeatedly sang the typical “SI-MO-NA, SI-MO-NA” chants.

Only the Mayor of Bucharest, Gabriela Firea Pandele, will probably not keep the event in good memory. The politician was blown out mercilessly after she entered the stage before the tennis star and apparently wanted to sunbathe in the limelight of Halep according to many visitors. Her speech on handing over the city key to “Simo” was lost in the whistle concert.

Last Saturday Halep won her first Grand Slam title at the Stade Roland Garros. In a high-class final, the 26-year-old won against the American Sloane Stephens in three sets with 3:6, 6:4, 6:1 after losing her previous three major finals.

Not only tennis icon Chris Evert had bowed to the world number one after the Romanian coup in Paris. “She fought like a lioness. She ran balls like no other, she showed emotions like no other,” Evert raved and said: “Simona had experienced so many disappointments at the Grand Slams before. And this victory erases the past and is so much sweeter.”