Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep was forced to battle back from a set down in her opening match at the Miami Open.
Playing in her first tournament since the Australian Open, Halep was able to overcome a slow start and a nagging shoulder to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, against Frances Caroline Garcia in two hours. She hit a total of 26 winners whilst her opponent produced 26 unforced errors.
“We played so many times and I always expect a tough match from her, she’s serving super well and it’s really tough to return,” said Halep.
“My serve was not really strong so I was under pressure the whole match but in the second set I just relaxed a little bit, I changed the tactic, I made her move a little more to the forehand and she started to miss a little bit more and I got the confidence that I can come back”.
The number three seed had an early chance to break in the first game of the match but the Frenchwomen did a good job saving it and holding the opening service game.
At 3-2, the world number 51 who looked like she was in control of the match and earned three breakpoints set up by a stunning passing shot. She would break the following point taking the first lead of the match. That was the only break she needed and she would serve out the first set to take it in 31 minutes.
Garcia had the momentum on her side and broke the Romanian in the first game of the second set and it was clear the world number three was out of sorts and struggling. She faced three breakpoints the following game but was able to save all three to consolidate the break.
At 2-1 Halep called for the trainer and took a medical timeout to have work done on her right arm and shoulder. The Frenchwomen had a chance to go up a double break but the Romanian was up to the task of saving it and staying alive.
At 3-2 Halep earned a breakpoint and would break to go back on serve at 3-3 and the match was slowly starting to turn in the favour of the world number three. At 5-4 the Romanian earned a set point and she would take to send the match into a decider.
This time the momentum was clearly with the number three seed and she continued to get work done by the trainer at every changeover during the rest of the match. After holding the opening service game of the the third set Halep went on the offensive sensing her French opponent was starting to make more mistakes.
She would earn the first break of the set with a huge forehand to take an early 2-0 lead and after consolidating the break she would earn two more breakpoints to go up a double break.
The world number three would break once more with a great passing shot to make it 5-0 and be one game away from pulling off the comeback, she would earn a match point and seal the match and the win with a backhand down the line winner.
In her post-match press conference, Halep explained that she needed a match like this to get her feet wet going into the tournament.
” I felt in the second set I was moving better, I relax my legs and I could work more with the legs, I needed a bit of extra power with her because she is a powerful opponent and I always have to push her back.”
She also elaborated on the injury that was nagging her throughout the match with her arm and shoulder.
” I just got treatment before coming here, it is painful but it’s not that bad, only when I serve I feel it so I hope to recover until the next one.”
Halep next opponent will either be the young American Coco Gauff or the Latvian Anastasjia Sevastova in the next round.
