Simona Halep shares memories of her first Madrid Open match against Venus Williams

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Simona Halep made Madrid Open history with her consecutive title wins in 2016 and 2017, joining Serena Williams as one of just two players to defend the crown during that stretch.

Across her six-year span at the tournament from 2014 to 2019, Halep picked up a pair of records that still stand in Madrid.

She first played there back in 2012 when blue clay was still a thing on tour.

Now, as the 2026 tournament kicks off, she’s been looking back at that debut appearance, which came against Venus Williams. And she hasn’t forgotten what happened afterward either:

Simona Halep reflects on facing Venus Williams in Madrid debut

Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

Halep’s first appearance at the Madrid Open in 2012 came as an unseeded player, and she was handed a tough opener against Venus Williams.

Williams entered the tournament as a wild card but had to work hard to advance past the opening round. She won in a final-set tie-break, though Halep didn’t let the result set her back.

The match was played on blue clay – that year’s short-lived experiment – and while Halep lost in three sets, it left her feeling positive about future visits.

She took to Instagram to look back on what made Madrid special for her, writing: “Madrid always felt like home to me. I don’t know how to explain it, but every time I came back here, I just felt good. The people, the organisation, everyone knew me and I knew them.”

“When you keep coming back year after year and go deep in the tournament, you become part of the place somehow.”

Halep retired from tennis in 2025 but is expected to play one final match this June in Romania before fully stepping away from the sport.