Simona Halep is into the second round of the Western and Southern Open after beating her Polish opponent Magda Linette 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in two hours and 15 minutes on grandstand court.
“It was a strong match in my opinion and both of us played really well,@ said Halep.
“The rain delay helped me to find my energy again so I was stronger physically and mentally in the third set.”
The Romanian got off to the best possible start earning three breakpoints in the first game of the match and broke to take an early 1-0 lead but at 2-1 the world number 44 tried to battle back and get the break back but Halep saved all three break points she faced.
Linette had another chance at 3-2 and this time she converted to even the match at three-all. However, she was broken in the very next game and that break was enough for Halep to serve out the first set.
Linette got off to a fast start in the second, and this time she got the early break and jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Then at 4-1, the Romanian called the physio and took a medical time out to have her thigh taped.
At 4-2, it started to rain, and play was suspended for an hour. The break the world number 44 had secured was enough for her to serve out the second set and force a deciding third set.
Halep saved three breakpoints in the first game of the third set and managed to hold serve and break the following game. That early lead pushed her to keep applying pressure on the world number 44 service game and she managed to go up a double break and serve out the match for a place in the next round.
In her post-match press conference, Halep spoke about if she has any goals or expectations either for this tournament or for the rest of the tennis season.
” The main goal is just to be healthy and to play as much as possible because I need to play matches because even if I practice at home it’s not the same and to build confidence I need to keep playing matches so hopefully I can win a few more”. She said.
She did also clarify the injury that she suffered during the match and how she was able to overcome it.
” It was just a contracted muscle and with the rain delay I was able to work with my physio. It felt much better so hopefully tomorrow I can be fit to perform at my highest level”. Halep concluded.
Halep will next face either National Bank Open champion Camila Giorgi or Jessica Pegula in her next match.
