Former tennis star Simona Halep will serve as honorary ambassador of the Transylvania Open (WTA 250) in Cluj-Napoca and will present the trophy to the winner of the 2026 edition, the organizers said in a release on Tuesday.
"Simona Halep, the most valuable player in the history of Romanian tennis, returns to Cluj as honorary ambassador of the Transylvania Open WTA 250. A former world No. 1, she continues to inspire the new generation even off the court. She will be present throughout the tournament, meeting players, ball kids and volunteers, and will hand over the 2026 trophy at the closing ceremony," the release states.
Throughout her career, Simona Halep has won 24 WTA titles, including two Grand Slam trophies - Roland Garros (2018) and Wimbledon (2019) - and spent 64 weeks at the top of the world rankings, making her the first Romanian to reach No. 1.
Halep played the final of the first edition of the Transylvania Open tournament in 2021, and in 2025 she chose to officially announce her retirement from tennis on the Central Court in Cluj-Napoca, in front of the fans, after an emotional first-round match.
"Transylvania Open is more than a tournament for me. It is the place where I felt the support of Romanian fans at the highest level and where I experienced unforgettable moments. I am happy to return and contribute with a different energy - that of supporting and encouraging future generations," Halep said.
Through this partnership, the organizers of the Transylvania Open WTA 250 tournament aim to celebrate the career of a great champion and, at the same time, to create the perfect context for dialogue, inspiration and authentic emotion around tennis.
"It is a privilege that Simona Halep has accepted our invitation to become an honorary ambassador of the Transylvania Open. She represents excellence in sport, total dedication and authentic performance. The fact that she is returning to Cluj, in a new role, but with the same energy, means a lot to us. It is a gesture that shows how important the community created around this tournament is - for the players, but also for the public," explained Patrick Ciorcila, the director of the Cluj tournament.
The sixth edition of the Transylvania Open will be held January 31 - February 7 at BTarena in Cluj-Napoca, with matches indoors on two hard courts. The draw includes 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams, with total prize money of $283,347.
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