Simona Halep honored as guest at Wimbledon 2026, drawing praise from coach and peers

Romanian tennis champion Simona Halep attended Wimbledon 2026 as an invited guest, appearing in the Royal Box alongside businessman Dorin Mateiu. Former coach Darren Cahill shared a photo of the two on social media, writing, “2019, Wimbledon champion! Glad to see you here, Simo,” and noted Halep’s striking physical transformation.

At the same time, Spanish player Paula Badosa, competing at the WTA event in Iaşi, spoke publicly about Halep, calling her “one of my idols” and saying she felt a strong connection to the Romanian star. Badosa highlighted the cultural ties between Spain and Romania and expressed joy at being embraced by local fans.

Halep, who retired from professional tennis a little over a year ago, has been adjusting to post‑career life, recently inaugurating the National Tennis Center in the Republic of Moldova and describing a desire for a quieter, more personal phase while still missing the adrenaline of competition.