via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 20, 2022 Romania’s Simona Halep reacts during her second round match against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 20, 2022 Romania’s Simona Halep reacts during her second round match against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Simona Halep has had a mixed start to the 2022 season. The 2-time Grand Slam champion missed major chunks of the clay and grass-court season in 2021 because of injury. She was forced to withdraw from the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Tokyo Olympics due to a calf injury.
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However, the Romanian made a resounding start to this season by winning the Melbourne Summer Set 1 title. But she wasn’t able to carry her good form into the Australian Open, as she was shocked in the fourth round by Alize Cornet of France. Following the loss, she made some changes to her coaching team and will be training at Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy. Recently, the former World No. 1 also opened up on her retirement plans.
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Simona Halep wishes to prolong her tennis career
The Romanian talked about her retirement as she gears up for her next tournament in Dubai. While Halep hasn’t had excellent runs in Slams which we’ve come to expect from her, her performances have been good and she has consistently reached the latter stages of tournaments.
She said, “I’m going to help myself, to invest in the development I want this year. I don’t know much about the future, I’m still an active player and I want to postpone the end of my career as long as I can.”
(Quotes have been translated using Google Translate)
USA Today via Reuters
Aug 17, 2021; Mason, OH, USA; Simona Halep (ROU) reacts against Magda Linette (POL) during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Following her underwhelming Australian Open campaign, Halep has dropped out of the top-20 rankings. She is currently placed at the 22nd position in the WTA rankings.
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Additionally, she parted ways with her coaches, Daniel Dobre and Adrian Marcu. The two had joined her team after she ended a successful six-year partnership with Darren Cahill. She will be accompanied by a sparring partner from Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy for tournaments in Dubai and Qatar.
via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 09: Ladies singles winner Simona Halep of Romania celebrates with her coach Darren Cahill in the dressing room following her victory in the ladies singles final against Sloane Stephens of The United States on day fourteen of the 2018 French Open at Roland Garros on June 9, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Corinne Dubreui – Pool/Getty Images)
Can Simona Halep stamp her authority on the WTA circuit again? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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