Two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep turns 30 today. The Romanian is one of the best tennis players around, holding the status of world number one twice between 2017 and 2019.In 2013, Halep became the first player since Steffi Graf in 1986 to win her first six WTA titles in the same year. She broke into the rankings top 10 in 2014, enjoying a steady rise to the top which culminated in victory at the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019.In celebration of Halep’s birthday, GiveMeSport Women selects five facts you should know about the tennis star.

Love of football

Although she ultimately chose a career in tennis, Halep played football growing up and still loves the sport today.

"I love football," she told FIFA in 2019. "My father didn’t quite have a professional career, but he loved football and everybody tells me how talented he was. I played a lot of football when I was a kid, on the street with my cousins and my brother.

"I think I’m lucky that the keepie-uppie ability comes naturally. I like to play all sports and maybe I have a bit of talent and coordination for it. I did nothing special to learn. Just like any sport, I played it a lot! I think my record is around 89."

Halep also named Romanian footballing legend Gheorghe Hagi as her hero.

Simona Halep has revealed she loves football

Favoured surface is clay

Despite excelling on all surfaces, Halep has revealed she prefers to play on clay. She has a 75.7 percent win rate on clay, compared to a 68.26 percent win rate on hard court and 69.64 percent win rate on grass.

Having won the French Open and Wimbledon, Halep has a Grand Slam title on clay and grass courts, but is yet to triumph at the highest level on hard court.

Halep revealed a desire at the start of this year to win every clay court tournament in 2021, as the surface is "my favourite". Injury prevented the star tennis player from achieving her goal.

Simona Halep's preferred surface is clay

Spent 64 weeks as world number one

Halep really hit her stride in 2017, and for the following two years, was one of the most dominant players in women’s tennis.

She first became world number one in October 2017, remaining at the top of the standings until she was displaced by Caroline Wozniacki in January 2018.

Halep then reclaimed her world number one status in February 2018 and stayed there until January 2019, when Naomi Osaka took her place.

Her 64 weeks at the top of the WTA rankings is the 11th longest period in history. She also holds the eighth longest streak for remaining in the top 10 – 373 consecutive weeks.

Simona Halep first became world number one in October 2017

One of Romania’s greatest sporting talents

Romania has many sporting heroes, including Gheorghe Hagi, tennis player Ilie Năstase and gymnast Nadia Comaneci. As a result of her success on the court, Halep is right up there with these icons.

After winning the French Open, Halep became the second Romanian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title after Virginia Ruzici, the first Romanian woman to be ranked world number one, and the first Romanian player to win a Wimbledon singles title.

As a result of her achievements, she received the Patriarchal Cross of Romania and the Order of the Star of Romania, and was named an honorary citizen of Bucharest.

Simona Halep is one of Romania's greatest sporting talents

Split with coach Darren Cahill

Halep has endured a frustrating year, missing the French Open, Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics after tearing her calf at the Italian Open in May.

As she aims to work her way back into the top 10 in the world, Halep announced last week she was splitting with Australian Darren Cahill after six years working together.

"After six wonderful years working together, Darren Cahill and I have decided that it’s time to end our working relationship," she posted on Twitter. "Thank you D for everything, for making me a better tennis player and a better person."