I didn’t expect such a surprise

The National Tennis Center in the Capital will bear the name of Simona Halep. The former player said on Thursday that it is a fulfillment and a joy. « I honestly didn’t expect such a surprise. I was very happy. It is a recognition of the results, an important and beautiful moment. It is a fulfillment for me that the National Tennis Center has my name. I did not fight for nothing and worked for so many years, « Halep told the ceremony organized by the Romanian Tennis Federation at the sports base near the National Arena.

Halep revealed the inscription « Simona Halep National Center » above the entrance to the sports base in the presence of the President of the National Sport Agency, Bogdan Matei and the president of the Romanian Tennis Federation, George Cosac.

« It is an exciting moment. When I was asked what I think about this instant idea I felt an emotion. It is a recognition of all the results I had as a child. Thank you for this initiative, it is a unique moment for me and somewhat responsibility to have the name here. But I hope that this name, by the results I have, is not for them. You dedicate yourself to the highest chance to get up.

« At 16, I came to Bucharest and on the lands of this base I trained. Even though it was difficult to leave home, to come here was the most important moment. That moment may have brought me to the highest level in world tennis. It is due to all those who worked with me, ”added Simona Halep.

She mentioned that this sports base was always a special place: ‘Always the National Tennis Center was a more special place because I played here when I was a child. And now there is something extra because my name is written there. This center remains a beautiful place ‘.

The President of the National Agency for Sport, Bogdan Matei, said during the event that the former Romanian athletes should be promoted much more for children to have a quality education.

« Of course we have a lot of work to do in what the education part means. And in order to have a quality education we have to promote what we have more valuable. And a more active presence of world -class athletes, such as Simona Halep, will bring this quality education to us, » he said.

« I thank Simona Halep for everything he did for the Romanian sport. A whole Romania cried, a whole Romania laughed … and if we today we have been laughing today, to enjoy the soul. He managed to unite a generation and a population sometimes divided.

For his part, FRT president George Cosac explained that it is normal for CNT to bear the name of Simona Halep, the most representative of Romania in the last 25 years.

« It is a special day, one in which the National Tennis Center becomes the Simona Halep National Center. Why Simona Halep? Because in the last 20 years, starting from 16 years when she became a European champion for the first time, all these generations of children have grown with Simona Halep as an idol, as a model and with the desire to overcome all the performance. More representative Romanian sports after 2000, with the highest visibility and notoriety.

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