The voice of world tennis, Andrew Krasny, sets the tone for the event in Cluj-Napoca
Elina Svitolina, one of the players alongside whom Simona Halep has written some of the most important matches of her career, is coming to Sports Festival in Cluj-Napoca. The Ukrainian will attend the official event dedicated to the career of the former world No. 1. The two will meet again on court on June 13, 2026, at BTarena.
The atmosphere will be set by Andrew Krasny, one of the most recognizable voices in world tennis. He will be one of the hosts of the show-event dedicated to Simona Halep. Known for his role as a presenter at some of the most important tournaments on the WTA and ATP circuits, he stated that he wouldn’t miss this event for anything in the world.
Throughout their careers, Elina Svitolina and Simona Halep built one of the most balanced rivalries of their generation, facing each other in numerous major WTA tournaments, as well as in the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup). Their encounters often carried high stakes, the most notable being the 2019 Wimbledon semifinal, won by Halep on her way to the Grand Slam title. On the other hand, Svitolina claimed a significant victory in the Round of 16 at the 2021 US Open.
Elina Svitolina: “I’m very happy to come to Cluj-Napoca, to Sports Festival, to celebrate the amazing career of Simona Halep. It will be something special to step once again, together, onto the same court.”
Svitolina is one of the most important players in women’s tennis over the past decade. A former world No. 3, the Ukrainian has won 19 WTA titles and achieved remarkable results at the highest level, including winning the WTA Finals in 2018, reaching two Grand Slam semifinals (Wimbledon and US Open 2019), and earning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games — the first in the history of Ukrainian tennis. After taking a break in 2022, Svitolina made a strong comeback. In 2026, she has already won a title and became the first player on tour to surpass 20 wins this season.
Andrew Krasny is one of the voices most closely associated with top-level tennis. He is widely known for his role as a host and presenter at some of the most important tournaments on the WTA and ATP circuits. With over two decades of experience in television and entertainment, Krasny has worked with major names in the media industry and has hosted major events such as Indian Wells, Miami, the US Open, and the WTA Finals. He is currently the host of “Court Report” on Tennis Channel, bringing to every appearance the energy and audience connection that have become his signature.
Darren Cahill, one of the most respected coaches in world tennis and former coach of Simona Halep, has also previously announced that he will return in 2026 to Sports Festival as a special guest at the official retirement event of Romania’s most decorated tennis player. The two worked together during the periods 2015–2018 and 2020–2021, with Cahill serving as her head coach when she became world No. 1 and won her first Grand Slam title.
About Sports Festival
The 7th edition of Sports Festival will take place between June 11–14, 2026, bringing, as every year, dozens of sports activities, competitions, demonstrations, international guests, inspirational talks, and free access to most activities. Following a 2025 edition with over 150,000 participants and a gala match featuring Ronaldinho, the festival in Cluj-Napoca continues to confirm its status as a leading European event for grassroots sport and the passion for movement.
