Ion Țiriac spoke about Simona Halep’s return to the court and had a grim verdict.
The businessman stated that he doesn’t believe Simona will be able to compete at a high level in the near future.
He believes that the long break Simona took has disrupted her entire rhythm and she can no longer progress.
"I've told you before, a tennis player, if they stop for a maximum of six months, they need three times that, meaning 18 months, to return to a normal level. If they don't have 50 matches with a referee, you can't reach number 1. There are 1.80-meter tall girls serving at 200 km/h… knocking on the door of the great champions.
Simona is a sensational talent, an exceptional athlete, the gifts she has given us, people quickly forget. Wimbledon, Roland Garros, number 1 in the world, you don't forget. In my opinion, it will be very difficult for her, I don't know if she deserves it and I don't know if she wants it. I would also like to be 25 years old again to win Wimbledon, but it's not possible. Everyone's time comes, Halep has done a lot, and much more than enough, considering the circumstances. Someone should be held accountable for putting her in this situation, starting with the team she had, ending with the officials," said Țiriac, quoted by ProSport.
Since returning to tennis, Simona has played only 5 official matches. She won only one, against Arina Rodionova, in Hong Kong, in October.
She will return to the court at the beginning of February, at the Transylvania Open.