mtenis.com.pl

Zhang Shuai def Simona Halep 6-4 6-3

Q. What was your assessment of that match? How did it go wrong for you?
SIMONA HALEP: I think wasn't my good day, but I give her a lot of credit because I think she played really well. She played without fear and she hit every ball.

So she had good rhythm. Yeah, I think I played a little bit too short in the first set. Then she was dominating me because she felt the ball really well.

Then I tried to change. I tried to stay there. But, yeah, at 3-1 I had the chance to go three the set, the second set, but didn't happen.

So, yeah, she beat me. Yeah, she was better today. It's tough. I'm really disappointed. But it's only one day, only one match. Tomorrow, it's a new day. I have to look forward and to stay motivated. I have many matches in forward.

Q. Were you surprised how she was going for the shots? You played her once before. That was almost four years ago and you won the match easily. Today she wasn't feeling like really fear to play a No. 2 seed.
SIMONA HALEP: She had confidence. She had three matches here already in the quallies. Yeah, she didn't have fear. She hit all the balls. I think she played much better than Indian Wells few years ago, but I think I let her play her best tennis. I didn't hit very strong and I didn't hit with good strength.

So, yeah, it happened and she was better today.

Q. Do you think you couldn't play your best tennis because of the injury you have, the fear in your mind, to prevent you playing your tennis?
SIMONA HALEP: Today I haven't pain. I had not pain. I didn't feel the pain. I had many problems in this period before coming here, so I can say that I am a little bit down mentally because I was very sick home. Then I came here with Achilles again. So it's tough to be positive, 100%, and try everything.

But I did. I think I did everything I could today. It was all I could do today. So I am okay, but disappointed, of course.

Q. In the last couple years here in Melbourne you've been further in the tournament. You sat at that desk and have been not very happy with the way you lost the last couple years. You seem a little bit more positive after this one, even though it's an early loss. Is that fair to say? If so, why?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, when I played here two years before, and last year I lost in the quarters because I was blocked, I couldn't manage the situation, the emotions.

But today was different. Today I think I was okay. Was only about the game. I played not my best tennis. I played too short. I played too soft. She could do everything with the ball.

It's okay. I don't want to make this match like dramatic. It happened. You know, everyone can lose. Everyone can win. I know that. I have just to take it like it is and go ahead.

Q. Did you feel better physically on court than you did in Sydney?
SIMONA HALEP: I played without pain today so I'm okay. Yeah, I'm still thinking about the injury because it's normal. I had really big pain in the Brisbane, but now I'm okay and I'm happy for that.

So we will see. I will go to check again my leg and we will see. But hopefully I'm okay.

Q. Some players prefer to try and take a break to make sure an injury is gone. Do you think you're going to need to do that at any point or you're confident the injury's behind you?
SIMONA HALEP: I did. I had a break when I felt pain at this Achilles after Singapore, and before, as well. But now was like came straightaway after I arrived in Brisbane. When I went off of the plane I felt the pain and I couldn't walk anymore.

I'm okay. I don't believe that I need break, but I will take few days I need mentally, and then I will start working hard again because is just a tournament and I have many more ahead.

Q. What is your next event?
SIMONA HALEP: Fed Cup normally, and then maybe Dubai and Doha.

Q. How have your practices been? Have you been able to practice the way that you want, hit the ball the way that you want in practice, but maybe it's just not happening in the matches? Or are there signs in practice that maybe the forehand isn't working or the backhand isn't great or something and it's carrying through into the match?
SIMONA HALEP: No, it went very well. In the morning, as well, the warmup. It's just because I had no matches maybe. I started the year with some problems. Maybe that's why I was a little bit down mentally.

But, no, normally in the practice I'm okay and everything went well n the right way. And also off-season I was practicing really hard and really well. So everything went well.

But I need time. I need time to make solid the things that I changed and the things that I want to improve. I can say I am a little bit lost on court, but I need time and I'm sure that I will come back stronger soon.

Q. Congratulations. That was a very convincing win. How do you sum it all up?
SIMONA HALEP: It was a good match. I played really well. I was very happy with the way that I mixed the game. She played sometimes soft. Sometimes she hit the ball.
So it was a good match. I think I did pretty well on all what I had to do, because I knew before the match how I have to play. So I think I did pretty well.

Simona Halep second round press conference
Q. Does it mean more to you considering that you weren't able to play any grass court events leading in?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah. Actually, if you don't play matches before coming here, you are a bit stressed that you are not prepared like official for competition. But like I said, I had many days practicing here, playing points. So I was ready to start the tournament.
I feel good here. Hopefully I will have many more good matches.
Q. Do you have a favorite match that you have played at Wimbledon in your mind?
SIMONA HALEP: Favorite match? Definitely would be the first one on Centre Court in 2014. First round I played good tennis and first time on Centre Court, so was amazing.
Q. How far do you think you are from that form you had in 2014?
SIMONA HALEP: I'm not very far, but it's a different situation. I'm two years older already, so it's a bit changed. (Smiling.) I feel good, I feel prepared, I feel my game, so I feel confidence. I just have to go on court and to play my best tennis if I can.
Q. Can you talk about your next match with Kiki Bertens.
SIMONA HALEP: It will be a tough one. I know her. She's in good form now. She played semis I think in French Open.
It's different here. It's grass. I played against her many years ago, so I don't know pretty I don't know her very well. But it's gonna be a tough one. It's gonna be a good challenge for me. And why not? I have to believe that I can win it.
Q. Were you surprised by her results in Roland Garros?
SIMONA HALEP: No, I was not surprised because I knew her since many years ago, like I said, and she plays different a little bit, under the ball, and the ball is coming different. She's strong. She has power. She serves well. I was not surprised that she's doing good job.
Q. And the same preparation. No grass. She was injured.
SIMONA HALEP: She was injured. I didn't know. Yeah, that's why.
We'll see tomorrow or after tomorrow.
Q. Is it tomorrow?
SIMONA HALEP: Tomorrow?
Q. Yeah, I don't know. You think so?
SIMONA HALEP: I don't know. Maybe. It's a good chance to play tomorrow, but I'm not sure.

Q. Kiki obviously has won more matches than anyone else on tour this season. How happy are you with your performance today?
SIMONA HALEP: I'm really happy that I won this match. It was important for me. It was a big challenge before this one. I knew she's in good form and she plays good tennis in this moment. She did a great job in French Open, so she had a lot of confidence before this match.
But I went there just to play my best, to be aggressive because I knew that it's the only chance that I can win the match, to be aggressive and to do my game. I did well, and, yeah, definitely I'm very happy about this win.
Q. Are you surprised by how much she has improved this year? Because this time last year she lost 6 Love, 6 Love. She's had an incredible season this season.
SIMONA HALEP: I'm not surprised, because I knew she's a good player. I played many years ago against her and she beat me.

I knew that she can be a good player because she's very strong. She has a different game, a little bit under the ball and the ball is not easy to return.
But, yeah, I think it's a good thing for her, and she will go like up more and more.
Q. Once you got the lead, it seemed like you played maybe a couple of loose games. I was wondering there if it was just nerves or you went away from your game plan, lack of focus?
SIMONA HALEP: You mean about...
Q. Once you got like 4 2 up in the first set you played a few loose games and a little bit in the second set, as well.
SIMONA HALEP: I didn't do like I wanted. It just happen. She played well. At 4 2, she came back well. Then I just wanted to stay focused, to continue to do my game, because I had to serve pretty well today.
The second serve I knew that has to be stronger because she returns well. And on grass you have no chance if you serve like less power.
I was running well today. I was catching dropshots, unbelievable dropshots of her. Yeah, I got more confident after few games. I felt that I had the game to win the match.
Q. Could you talk a little bit about what Darren Cahill has added?
SIMONA HALEP: What he told me before?
Q. And in general what he's added to your game.
SIMONA HALEP: Actually, I think I have the same game, just more aggressive. And I try just to stay closer to the baseline but not just there because with strong players it's difficult to return the balls.
Yeah, I'm moving better since I started to work with him. Definitely the return is improving and also the serve. I change few things, and now I think I serve pretty well.
Q. At the time since you started working with him full time, there have been a lot of the top men players have been looking for new coaches at different times and taken new different coaches on. Do you feel that you got in at just the right time to have him?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I think it was great timing. But I started to work with him last year in Indian Wells actually. Even if he was doing the job for adidas, he was next to me all the time.
Yeah, it was great timing and I'm happy that I have him.
Q. What were you pleased with the most in your game?
SIMONA HALEP: Everything. Actually, I'm happy with the way I played. I expected a tough match. She didn't give up at all till the last point.
I played well. I mean, I felt every ball. I felt my legs. The court was very safe. I could run like to all the balls.
Yeah, everything was good. And also the roof was good for me today (smiling).
Q. Do you feel you're playing as well as you did when you reached the semifinal here?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, but I'm a little bit different. I think mentality, as well. Two years older so it's important. (Smiling.)
I think I have a stronger game now. But, yeah, I cannot compare. That time was that time, and now I'm like I am now. And I'm more confident now, for sure.
Q. Initially there was some worry about you pulling out because of your Achilles injury from Birmingham. In a weird way, has that been helpful for you because you came here earlier, could get comfortable with the surroundings and practicing a lot?
SIMONA HALEP: Actually, I wanted to play Eastbourne but Darren told me I have to come here to practice. It's better to get used to this club.
It was a good idea. I came here very early, and I practiced every day, hard practices. I wanted to play in Birmingham, but the Achilles didn't let me play. I mean, three days I had unbelievable pain and I couldn't walk and then gone.
And here, after few days I started to feel it again but next day was off. So I cannot say anything about this Achilles. He's going as he wants, as it wants. (Laughter.)
Yeah, hopefully I will be able to play like my best tennis and to move like my best.
Q. We don't know your next opponent. Can you talk about each one of them separately?
SIMONA HALEP: It's Keys against Cornet? Yeah. (Smiling.) What should I say about them? They are strong players. I know both of them. I played many times against them. Grass is always difficult, because you never know what is gonna happen.
But I'm ready to play. I just want to enjoy it. It's one of my best results this year so far, so I have nothing to lose. I just want to go there and try my best.

Simona Halep has announced she will not be competing at the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Shortly after winning her quarterfinal at the BRD Bucharest Open, Halep took to social media to reveal her withdrawal from the Games, citing fears over the Zika virus outbreak across South America.

"The reason for my decision is the concern regarding the danger posed by the Zika virus," was posted on Halep's Facebook page. "After several talks with doctors and my family, i concluded that the risks are too high for my career and for my health, especially as a woman. Family is much too important for me and I can't risk not being able to have one of my own after my career in tennis is over."

Simona Halep to jedna z najlepszych aktywnych tenisistek bez tytułu wielkoszlemowego. To ma się zmienić dzięki dwóm osobom - trenerowi Darrenowi Cahillowi i mentorowi Ionowi Tiriacowi, o czym Rumunka mówiła w rozmowie z magazynem "Forbes".


Choć w trakcie dziesięciu lat zawodowej kariery Simona Halep współpracowała z wieloma uznanymi trenerami, uważa, że to obecny szkoleniowiec, Darren Cahill, ma największy wpływ na jej tenisowy rozwój


Ion Tiriac poprowadzi karierę Lucasa Pouille'a
- Gram teraz agresywniej, choć nie jest to szaleńcza agresja. To raczej sprytna agresja. Nie mogę przecież przez cały czas trzymać się blisko linii końcowej. Muszę także wchodzić w kort - mówiła.
Agresywniejsze nastawienie to nie jedyna zmiana, jaką według Halep w jej tenis wprowadził Cahill. - Pracowaliśmy nad każdym uderzeniem i mam wrażenie, że obecnie gram lepiej. Mój forhend jest teraz mocniejszy. Teraz pracujemy nad serwisem. Trener powiedział mi, abym niżej wyrzucała piłkę i sądzę, że to mi naprawdę pomaga - wymieniała.


Mobile Strike
Kamień, papier, BAZOOKA!
Zagraj w grę

Drugą najważniejszą osobą w karierze Halep jest Ion Tiriac. Rumuński były tenisista i trener, a obecnie biznesmen, menedżer i właściciel turnieju w Madrycie. - On dużo ze mną rozmawia i mi doradza. Zdarza się, że przychodzi na moje treningi - wyjawiła.

ZOBACZ WIDEO Świetny mecz Piotra Zielińskiego przeciwko Interowi - zobacz skrót meczu [ZDJĘCIA ELEVEN]

Świetny mecz Piotra Zielińskiego przeciwko Interowi - zobacz skrót meczu [ZDJĘCIA ELEVEN]
Rumunka zdobyła już 14 tytułów głównego cyklu, ale nigdy nie wygrała turnieju wielkoszlemowego. I to właśnie wielkoszlemowe mistrzostwo jest jej największym marzeniem.

- Tiriac twierdzi, że mam wszystko, by wygrać wielkoszlemowy turniej. Muszę tylko w to uwierzyć. Ważne, że mam przy sobie kogoś tak ważnego w moim życiu i karierze - przyznała.

Q. How are you feeling?
SIMONA HALEP: I'm okay. I feel good. I have already one week here. I was preparing pretty good during this week. I'm waiting. I'm a little bit nervous. But it's normal.

Yeah, I'm fit.

Q. Do you feel a little bit as if you want to make amends for what happened last year?
SIMONA HALEP: Oh, I hope is going to be better this year. Last year, yeah, it was tough for me. I lost first round. But the opponent played well. She made quarterfinals, so was not that bad.

But still, yeah, I'm looking forward to start tomorrow, even if it's first match on center court. Will be very nice. I will be excited to be there.

Q. How do you feel about playing the first match on the main court at a slam? Obviously not like Wimbledon where you're the defending champion or something. Special status?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, it's special to open the tournament actually on the biggest stadium. But I've played before. Also French Open twice. So it's okay. I'm not thinking very much at that thing. I just have to go there. I know the opponent pretty well. I played at US Open against her.

Is going to be a tough match. I will expect a good one. Just trying to give everything I have, and I really want to win it.

Q. What is the speed of the court for you?
SIMONA HALEP: The speed? It's okay. I had the chance to practice on Rod Laver a few times. It's nice. It's very big. Yeah, we need little bit time to get used to it. It's okay. I feel good on it. The speed, it's okay. It's normal.

Q. Have you had an opportunity to play practice matches or anything this week?
SIMONA HALEP: No, just the biggest courts. I'm lucky. When you are in the top, it's good (smiling).

Q. There's a new feature on the tournament website about analysis of certain features. One of the features has you as the fastest player, man or woman, currently playing in terms of speed over three meters. Did you hear that?
SIMONA HALEP: I heard. Actually my coach told me. Yeah, it's nice to hear that. Maybe because I'm not that tall, that's why I'm fast.

It's my advantage, I can say, the speed during the matches, during the game. I work on this every time. I think it's helping me a lot during the matches, important matches, that I can move fast.

I think, like, it's in my system. I work on it, but still I have it since I was a kid.

Q. Were you aware of the advantage? Is it news to you that you're the fastest? Is it something you use as part of your strategy?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I think my game is fast. Sometimes I go back and I defend a little bit. But what I have in my mind is just to go to take the ball fast and to finish the point faster.

So, yeah, everything I try, I try to play fast and to be fast on court.

Q. Is your preparation for the Australian Open any different than your preparation for the US Open? Have you made changes? Is it kind of the same?
SIMONA HALEP: No, nothing special. Everything is the same. Just one thing I changed, I came earlier to Australia to try to, like, get used to the heat. In Romania, it's very cold.

I haven't been in Romania for Christmas, my home. This is different. But nothing else.

Q. How have you gone with the heat? Do you generally struggle with it? You must be happy to playing tomorrow instead of Tuesday.
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I heard that Tuesday is going to be hotter.

You know, it's always tough because I'm not like a kid, used to stay in this heat this period of time. Now I have already four weeks here in the heat, so I'm used to it now.

Q. What is the average temperature at home at Christmas?
SIMONA HALEP: Minus 20.

Q. You spent Christmas in Adelaide. How different is an Australian Christmas from a Romanian Christmas?
SIMONA HALEP: Very different. They were in the flip-flops, in the pool. In Romania, we were used to stay like a formal dinner. Everyone is very well dressed. You don't have to move much.

Yeah, with his family, I had very different Christmas. It was fun. I was in the shorts. So it was, yeah, a big difference between these two.

Q. Against Shelby, what do you expect against her in the first round?
SIMONA HALEP: Like I said, I played in US Open against her. I remember that was a tough match. She's a good player. She played really well last year in French Open, I think.

It's going to be a tough match. I'm feeling good. I'm trying just to stay focused, to give everything I have, and to be confident. I didn't play much at the beginning of the year, and also I lost in China second round. I had time to work on my game a little bit, and now I'm more relaxed. I chill more. I just want to go to take every match the same and nothing special. Just go there for it.

Q. She can be a big hitter.
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, she is. I know that.

Q. Take a lot of rhythm away from you. What do you do to get comfortable on court?
SIMONA HALEP: To move fast (laughter). To block a little bit. Actually, I have to do my game, even if she hits strong. I've played before with few players that are hitting very strong, so I know how I have to play against them.

But you never know. It's going to be a new match, new day. Just going there to fight till the end, even if the game is not working sometimes. I have just to stay there and to fight.

Simona Halep’s name is now etched in the history of the Mutua Madrid Open as she completed a successful defence of the title she claimed last year. The Romanian kept her crown to continue her reign in the Caja Mágica, beating French player Kristina Mladenovic in a passionate final that lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes and was decided in three sets 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2.

The Romanian had played solid tennis all week, but she struggled early on in the final and was broken on her first serve. In the opening games of the match she looked uncomfortable on court and although she did not play well early on, she managed to break her opponent’s serve at a time where there was nothing between the two players on court. On the other side of the net, Mladenovic pressured the Romanian and was serving at 5-4 for the first set. However, the defending champion rescued herself to stay alive and started playing her best tennis again, taking the last four games of the set to turn the match on its head.

The champion was back on top and she started the second set in the same way she finished the first, winning on her serve and breaking her opponent’s. She had now won six games on the trot. But Mladenovic was not about to give up easily and she broke back to level the set. From this point on, both players held their serves to take the second to a tiebreak, which was equally well contested. This time though, it was the French player who took the spoils to force a decider.

The defending champion, who had lost three of her previous four clashes with Mladenovic, stepped up to the plate and was the more confident of the two at key moments. She held her serve and broke her opponent’s twice to lift the trophy that bears the name of her countryman, Ion Tiriac, for the second time in the Manolo Santana Stadium.

Halep now has 15 titles under her belt, three of them Premier Mandatory trophies, of which this is her first this season. She also becomes the first player to successfully defend her title in Madrid since Serena Williams did so, and the most successful player in the tournament’s history, with two titles and the runner-up trophy she collected in 2014 when she lost to Maria Sharapova. “I am very happy to have defended the title, it means a lot to me and gives me confidence for the next big tournaments”, explained a radiant Halep in her press conference. Immediately after the match, she announced on court: “Next year I will be back to defend it”.

Doctors rate Simona Halep as "50/50" for the French Open after suffering an ankle ligament injury in Rome, she has revealed.
-A +A
May 24, 2017
WTA World No.4 Simona Halep has revealed she is "50/50" to compete at the French Open after suffering an ankle injury during the final of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

The Romanian wrote on social media that a scan showed she had torn a ligament after falling against Elina Svitolina but she remains hopeful of a swift recovery.

"Arriving early in Paris for treatment," said Halep. "The MRI scan shows a torn ligament from the fall in Roma. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for RG [Roland Garros] and will do everything possible to be ready.

"Doctors say it's 50/50 at the moment but it's made good improvement since Sunday."

She thanked tennis fans for their messages of support, adding: "We are remaining very positive."