Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, currently third in the WTA ranking of the best women tennis players in the world, received from the Ministry of Youth and Sports the National Sports Award worth RON 30,000 (EUR 6,670). This was announced by the former Sports Minister Nicolae Banicioiu on February 21, 2014, but was published in Romania's Official Gazette on December 30, 2014.

"The prize was awarded by Nicu Baniciou in February 2014. It should have been published earlier, but due to successive changes it was published very late. At the end of the year, when we checked if all the papers are published, we noticed that this order on the 2013 award was not published. Simona Halep received the award, but there was this delay at the Official Gazette," said Carmen Tocala, State Secretary.

The former Minister of Youth and Sports Nicolae Banicioiu offered Simona Halep the Master of Sports title and the National Sports Award for the results achieved in 2013, on February 21, 2014.

Simona Halep grossed prize winnings of some USD 4.5 million in 2014, and ranked fourth in the world based on her winnings during the year. Throughout her career, Halep earned some USD 6.5 million in prize money.

Number one for earnings in the WTA ranking came Serena Williams, who is also the number one player worldwide - USD 9.3 million. She made some USD 63.5 million in prize money during her entire career.

Romanian Simona Halep wins her first match in 2015

editor@romania-insider.com