Steffi Graf also got a marriage proposal from the crowd.
Simona Halep played a dreamy exhibition match with tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, who were joined by former Romanian greats Andrei Pavel and Horia Tecau. Another special guest was the multiple doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam champion Justin Gimelstob.
The match took place in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in the same polyvalent hall where the WTA 250 Transylvania Open is held. The exhibition, part of the local Sports Festival, had everything: exciting points, jokes, smiles, and an extraordinary light show.
After all, the same venue hosts the Untold Festival, one of the best music festivals in the world.
Light show at Sports Festival 2024© Sports Festival
Halep: “Present to feel the love that I have missed”
This was the first time Halep played in Romania after the favorable verdict on the roxadustat contamination case.
“The public here has told me in the past that they will always support me. That’s what they did today. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I always had a special reception in Cluj. Today I am here, happy to be again present on a tennis court, present here to feel the love that I have missed these two years,” Halep said during the exhibition.
Agassi also enjoyed being in Cluj. “It is a joy to be here, to play, to share with you and dear friends this evening. A it was an honor for us to be here. We wish we never left!”
In the crowd were also Ilie Nastase, whose documentary called Nasty got launched recently, his good friend Ion Tiriac, and former French Open winner Virginia Ruzici.
Halep’s family attended as well. On teaming up with his wife Graf, Agassi said: “I can’t think of a better partner.” As a fun fact, during the exhibition, a spectator asked Graf if she’d marry him. Graf swung her index finger left and right in disapproval.
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