“Always I Have Confidence”: Simona Halep Reflects On Favorable Conditions at Mutua Madrid Open 2021

Former world number one and two-time grand slam champion Simona Halep is yet to make a solid return to form this year on the WTA tour. Having played few tournaments so far, the Romanian managed to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and lost in the semi-finals of the recently concluded Stuttgart Open. 

Simona Halep gets a solid first-round victory at Madrid Masters

Being an elite clay-court player, Halep is one of the top contenders to win the ongoing Mutua Madrid Open. A two-timer winner at the Madrid Open(2016, 2017), Halep won her first-round match in straight sets over the Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-0,7-5. 

The Romanian was exquisite in her game plan for most of the match. She won the first set comfortably and had a hefty lead of 5-1 over the Spaniard in the second.

Also read: “Back on the Clay”: Simona Halep Recovers From Injury and Begins Preparation for Her Favorite Season

A momentary lapse of concentration led Simona to lose four straight games as Tormo leveled the match 5-5 and looked confident enough to enforce a tie-breaker. 

However, Halep was quick to get back on her feet as she broke the Spaniard’s serve in the eleventh game of the second set; she won her service game and won the match after being threatened by Tormo for a brief period in that set. 

Speaking about her opponent’s confidence, Halep commented that she expected a tough match, and the opponent delivered accordingly. 

“I’m happy to be here”- Halep on playing in Madrid

“She definitely played much better in the second set, and she was more aggressive. I lost a little bit of concentration, and then I started to miss a little bit more. But even if I was a set and 5-1 up, I knew that she can come back. I expected a tough battle, and it was.”

As expected, Halep dominated longer rallies and played critical points throughout the match with a fighting zest and got the much-deserved victory.

Talking about how much she loves playing in Madrid, the Romanian said, “Coming to Madrid, always I have confidence because I like the courts, I like the conditions. I’m good. I’m happy to be here.”

Halep will now face the Chinese player Zheng Saisai in the second round. The Romanian has a perfect 2-0 head-to-head record over Zheng, which predicts a comfortable two-sets victory for the Romanian once again.

Also read: “Important To Be a Flag Bearer”: Simona Halep Dreams To Win an Olympic Gold Medal