Simona Halep, former world leader and five-time participant in the Tournament of Champions, was invited by the WTA to promote the 2025 edition, which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Simona Halep, in the official WTA campaign | PHOTO Profimedia
In a video published on the official Instagram accounts of Simona Halep and the Tournament of Champions, the athlete from Constanța sends a message of encouragement to fans to follow the competition.
“Hello everyone! I’m Simona Halep. I’m excited to take part in this year’s Tournament of Champions in Riyadh. It’s such a special event, offering the best of tennis on a brand new stage. Make sure you get your tickets today and experience this great tournament with us.”, said Simona Halep, in the video message distributed by the WTA.
The organizers did not specify what exact role Simona Halep will have at the competition in Riyadh, but her presence in the promotion campaign marks a symbolic return of the Romanian to the attention of the international public.
The list of qualified players is already complete: Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus), Iga Świątek (Poland), Coco Gauff (USA), Amanda Anisimova (USA), Jessica Pegula (USA), Madison Keys (USA), Jasmine Paolini (Italy) and Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) will be present in Saudi Arabia for the last major event of the season.
Simona Halep, excellent image in the Arab world
The WTA’s decision to co-opt Simona Halep for the 2025 edition is not accidental at all. The former world leader enjoys an excellent image in the Arab world, where she is one of the most respected foreign players.
Halep lives most of the time in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and has had a special relationship with the public in the region, where she won the Dubai trophy twice (2015 and 2020).
