Simona Halep will leave Paris with her head held high.
The world No.3 is reaching for the positives after relinquishing the Roland-Garros title with defeat in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
“I feel sad, because every time when I lose, I’m sad. And I’m a little bit upset because I couldn’t make my game. I couldn’t move normally. I think she played great. I think that I have done everything I could today and this tournament, I’m happy with the result,” reflected the Romanian.
“It’s not bad at all to make quarter-finals at a Grand Slam. Coming as a defending champion, the pressure was on. But I think I had good matches, and I’m leaving this tournament with positive thoughts.”
Following two tight opening rounds going the distance, the 27-year-old soared into the second week in Paris with talk of a title defence well within her grasp.
The third seed arrived on court having dismantled Polish prodigy Iga Swiatek 6-1, 6-0 in the fourth round. However, another teenage sensation Amanda Anisimova hurled the history books out the window to book a maiden Grand Slam semi-final in 68 minutes.
The 17-year-old American blasted 25 winners past Halep in a full-throttle display, but the Constanta nativa was not surprised, stating Anisimova has a “big chance” to lift the trophy.
“I expected. I knew that she’s going to play very well, but she played great today. All credit to her, because she made a good match, a big match,” continued Halep, disappointed from her side of the net that tension restricted her game.
“Nerves a little bit. Stressed because I felt that I’m playing well, and maybe my expectations for myself were big today. Maybe I couldn’t handle the tension in my body so I couldn’t play my best and I couldn’t move at my best level.”
The 2018 champion, who also made finals here in 2014 and 2017, insists her positive outlook could fuel a successful stint on the grass courts.
“Yeah, I think it will help me for the future tournaments. I’m not negative now. I’m not very disappointed. It’s normal to be a little bit disappointed after a loss, but I feel okay, and I’m looking forward to a new day tomorrow. Actually, a few days off first,” said Halep with a smirk.
Over at the luscious lawns of Wimbledon Halep has previously reached the semi-finals (2014) and two other quarter-finals.
“You know, it’s already, I don’t know, maybe seventh year when I do these things coming from clay to grass court. I got used to it,” she added. “For everybody is the same. I will not do something special. I will just keep my routine, and I will try to get ready as much as possible for Wimbledon. Hopefully I can make a good result. But no, no pressure. This year is a ‘chill’ year for me.”
Now that her Roland-Garros title has been surrendered, who does Halep favour to take her place on the roll of honour?
“Nothing surprises me anymore in tennis, but if I have to choose, Barty has a big chance also because she’s very talented and she feels the ball. She played also well in the previous tournaments on clay, so I think she has the game to win the tournament,” stated Halep.
“Konta is, first time when she wins matches at Roland-Garros, so everything can be possible. The other two, they are very young, so the story from 2017 can repeat. Maybe one of them has a chance to win the tournament, both teenagers in the finals would be huge.”
