The number one seed got by her Russian opponent in straight sets to reach the final eight.
Simona Halep is through to the quarterfinals of the Transylvania Open in Cluj Napoca after beating the Russian Varvara Gracheva in straight sets 6-4 6-2 winning 81% of her first serve points in a match that lasted one hour and 14 minutes despite suffering a back injury.
The Romanian seemed in charge for most of the match but late in the second set she was treated for a back issue but confirms after the match she didn’t want to stop playing and she wanted to fight.
“I think I played good tennis in the first set until my back got stiff after an awkward move. After that, I just wanted to finish the points fast. She helped me a bit, doing a few errors and things went my way so I was able to win.”
It was indeed the number one seed with the faster start to the match earning two breakpoints in the first game and breaking the world number 81 to take an early 1-0 lead but was broken the following game to go back on serve.
At 2-2 the world number 18 had four chances to break and she was able to break the Russian serve once again at the fourth time of asking to take a 3-2 lead. This time she was able to hold serve and consolidate the break.
The next game she had three chances to go up a double break but the Moscow native saved all three and was able to hold serve. The set stayed on serve after that and Halep was able to serve it out to take a one set lead.
That’s when she called the trainer during the break between the end of the first set and the beginning of the second and it seemed like she had made a false movement as the trainer had a look at her lower back.
She eventually took a medical timeout off the court but was able to continue and once again got the first break of serve of the set to take an early 2-1 lead.
It stayed on serve until 4-2 when the Romanian had two chances to go up a double break and she did just that and served out the match.
After the match in her post-match interview, she spoke about not giving up even if she was not 100% and the will she had to fight and keep going.
“I promised myself that I will not quit, and this is what I try to do every time I go on court. Like I said, I am not interested in a certain result, I just want to have a few matches. And today I fought because I am home and I like to play here.”
Halep will face another Romanian Jaqueline Cristian on Friday in the quarterfinals after she beat the number five and Aussie Alja Tomlijanovc on Wednesday night.