Australian Open: Simona Halep is becoming a title contender
Simona Halep becomes title contender in Melbourne. On the one hand, this is due to the Romanian's impressive start to the season and, on the other hand, to the very open tableau in the lower half.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Jan 21, 2022, 01:07 pm
Garbine Muguruza, Anett Kontaveit, Elena Rybakina and Emma Raducanu. Each of these four women had to shelve their dream of triumphing at the Australian Open on Thursday. What else do they have in common? All were in the third quarter of the tableau. Simona Halep , who has made a strong impression in Melbourne so far, could benefit from the numerous surprises.
At the preparatory tournament in Victoria's capital, the Romanian only gave up one set on the way to the title, and at the Australian Open Halep has only lost nine games in two matches to date. On Thursday, the world number 15 sat down. 6: 2 and 6: 0 against Beatriz Haddad Maia, in round three Raducanu conquerors Danka Kovinic is now waiting.
"It was a great match. She didn't play that bad, but I was very aggressive and did what I had to do," Halep said in an on-court interview after defeating Haddad Maia. The two-time Grand Slam winner didn't face a single breakball against the Brazilian and hit 15 winners in 12 unforced errors.
Halep, it seems, is back at 100 percent after the 2021 epidemic - she missed the French Open and Wimbledon due to calf problems. And now one of the co-favorites for the title. The 30-year-old is the only player in the bottom half to have reached the final of the Australian Open. In 2018, the then world number one Caroline Wozniacki had to admit defeat in three tight sets.
Here is the women's individual tableau
laver arena