WTA: “Dr. Simona”: Halep honoured with honorary doctorate in Romania

Industry leader Simona Halep has been awarded an honorary doctorate in her native Romania.

“Dr. Ivo” gets competition – from “Dr. Simona”. Which is not entirely true if you look at it correctly. Ivo Karlovic, the impact giant from Croatia, carries his “title” after “Dr. Evil” from the Austin Powers films.

But Simona Halep, who finished the season number one in the tennis universe for the second time in a row, can already rely on more solid words when it comes to her honorary doctorate, which she was recently awarded by West University in Timisoara, Romania, as a reward for her sporting successes and her superbly fulfilled role as “unofficial” ambassador of her country.

Halep was “proud” and felt “honoured” when she was awarded an honorary doctorate, which is not an academic award, at a ceremony. The 27-year-old had won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open in Paris in June. Previously she had lost three major finals – twice in Roland Garros (2014 and 2017) and once at the Australian Open (2018).

The industry leader had only recently announced that she would start the 2019 season without a new coach. Her former coach Darren Cahill is taking a year off to look after his family. “I want to tackle a few tournaments alone and then see how it goes,” Halep told Romanian media last week.