Ruse on the Romanian generation symbolized by Halep and Cirstea: "They were all my role models".

One of the week's top stories in the tennis world was Simona Halep's retirement. At the age of 33, the former world number 1, who had been struggling with her knee for several weeks, bowed out after a final match at her home tournament in Cluj-Napoca, which she lost to Lucia Bronzetti (6-1, 6-1).

Tributes poured in after the announcement of Halep's retirement, particularly from other Romanian players such as Ana Bogdan and Sorana Cirstea.

In an interview with Treizecizero, Elena-Gabriela Ruse spoke not only of the two-time Grand Slam winner, but also of the country's entire generation, which is about to make way for another.

"I don't have enough words to list the number of things the girls are leaving us. I grew up watching their tennis, they were all my role models.

I saw Sorana (Cirstea), Simona (Halep), Monica (Niculescu), then Irina-Camelia (Begu), they gave me an extraordinary boost.

I grew up thanks to them. They climbed so high! After all, there were 5 Romanian players in the top 50, something incredible for Romania, where we have three hard courts in the whole country!

I really don't have the words to describe how many good things they've done for us.

Of course, seeing them every day on TV, I also wanted to be like them, I wanted to become a professional player like them", she assures us.