Two-time grand slam champion Simona Halep has said she has been left ‘frustrated’ by her country’s government for their failure to invest into the Romanian Tennis Association.
The world No.2 joined a series of top athletes from her country to speak out about the state of investment in sport on Wednesday. Participating in a press conference at the Palace of Parliament, which also featured legendary gymnast Nadia Comăneci and former Olympic 5000 meter champion Gabriela Szabo. Addressing reporters, Halep have called for a rapid improvement in infrastructure to develop sporting talent.
“I didn’t come here for me, but for the new generation,” the Romania Journal quoted Halep as saying.
“The new generation badly needs infrastructure, which is missing in our country. We badly need a sports hall to host all Fed Cup matches. There are many children who need financial support, especially when it comes to tennis, which is an expensive sport (…) I really launch a call for this cause, for infrastructure in tennis. Romanian tennis had many great results (…) It’s a real pity for our Romanian talent to not do anything, to not progress,” she added.
Halep is one of 11 players currently ranked in the top 200 on the WTA Tour. Last year the Romanian Fed Cup team reached the semi-finals of the competition in what was their best performance for more than 40 years. On the men’s tour, Marius Copil is the only player from the country to be in the top 200 in singles.
Nevertheless, 28-year-old Halep remains the key figure in Romanian tennis. So far in her career, she has won 19 WTA titles and made more than $35 million in prize money. After winning the Wimbledon crown last summer, she attended a special ceremony to mark her achievement in Bucharest.
“It is frustrating that the Romanian Tennis Federation does not exist very much, as far as I understand, and I am quite documented on this subject.” She said.
“It is frustrating for us, it is frustrating for me having so many results, being the number one worldwide, that our federation is not funded by the Government.”
In another development, Halep has said she is confident her team will fair well in this year’s Fed Cup without her. She is skipping the team competition in order to focus on the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer. Romania has been drawn to play Italy in April.
“I watched the Fed Cup matches, I think the girls did a great job, they had important victories and very good matches.” She told Digi Sport.
“They are capable of doing the same thing with Italy and I think they are strong enough to do the right thing, ”
Halep will return to action next week at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
