Simona Halep announces retirement after losing at Transylvania Open

Simona Halep suffered a heavy defeat in Romania (Mihaela-Ionela Bobar/AP)

Former world number one Simona Halep has announced her retirement after suffering a resounding defeat in her first match of 2025.

Halep belatedly got her season under way in her home event, the Transylvania Open, in Romania on Tuesday, after being handed a wildcard.