OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 11, 2021

Simona Halep

Press Conference

D. COLLINS/S. Halep

2-6, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you just walk us through the match.

SIMONA HALEP: Yes, it was a great match in my opinion. After three months of a break, I played really well. Yeah, I am happy with everything today. Just sad that I lost the match, but I'm getting better.

Q. I know your expectations might not have been very high considering the fact you hadn't played for three months. You seem to be satisfied with the way you played anyway.

SIMONA HALEP: Yes, I am. I am very, let's say, positive about how I played today. A little bit unexpected because after three months that you cannot play much tennis, you come and play three hours at the very high level with someone that is winning lately matches and tournaments. So I'm really happy with the way I played.

Q. Can you say anything about the break after the fifth game of the third set?

SIMONA HALEP: It was tough for me because after two hours and a half, to get more than 10 minutes' break is not fair before the serve. I think this rule is not good at all.

But some players, when they don't trust they can win with the game, they ask the medicals. Then they run better than before.

This is it. I have to get better in that way. It happened to me few matches already when in the end of the match the opponent gets the medical and I cannot physically stay there. Sometimes when you sweat a lot, you lose energy, and the break is not good in that moment.

But credit to her because she played well.

Q. You had some struggles to serve during the second set and third set. Is it related to your injury?

SIMONA HALEP: No, no, is not about the injury. It was a little bit tiredness. I felt a bit tired with my shoulder playing so high level, so powerful. She hit the ball very strong. It was a little bit normal.

But, yeah, my serve didn't help me much today.

Q. It's been seven years since you played Danielle at the US Open. I don't know if you remember that match. How have you really seen the evolution of her game since then? What was it about her game tonight that gave her the edge?

SIMONA HALEP: I think she was a wild card in 2014 when we played each other in Australia -- in US Open. She improved a lot, of course. It's seven years. She's in the top. She's winning tournaments. She has improved a lot in the game.

Q. How much of this has just really got to do with the lack of matches? On the other side, are there concerns you need to work on as far as your game is concerned?

SIMONA HALEP: Can you repeat, please, the last part?

Q. How much of it is really just a lack of match practice, or are there concerns about aspects of your game you feel you need to adjust going forward?

SIMONA HALEP: Yes, I think the fact that I didn't have matches before coming here, it meant a lot. The concentration doesn't stay there a hundred percent every point. You lose sometimes.

But still, after those three months, I played a very high level. I'm very happy with the way I played. She was hitting very strong, and I was able to stay there and to return the balls, open the court in a good way.

I can say that I felt tired in the end. Maybe this aspect has to be improved. But with matches I am very sure that it will come back and I will be much stronger physically.

Today I think I got a little bit down in the end and I didn't have enough energy to give a better tennis, yeah, to play better tennis.

Q. You said before the tournament that you felt far from your level. You're saying today obviously you were very happy with how you played. What surprised you tonight about your level? Like, what was it that made you feel like you walked off feeling like you played well?

SIMONA HALEP: Feeling the ball actually. I felt the ball very, very well. That's why I have confidence that I'm not that far anymore. I am closer to the level.

Still I played a very good level. It's just a matter of energy. Physical part played a big thing in the end. Of course, her confidence. She played really well. She was, like, pushing all the time. She was aggressive when she needed it. So all the credit to her for the victory.

Still I am very happy with this match and I'm confident for next week.

Q. Is it safe to say you're leaving Montreal a lot more confident than maybe you thought you were going to feel, that it's feeling better?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, yeah. I felt like I will be maybe at US Open at this level that I played today. But doesn't mean that next week I will be at the same level. I have to see how I wake up tomorrow with the body, how it's going to be.

But at least I trust my game now. I trust that I can be in the top, the level to be in the top.

Q. On the time you were away, how much did you miss not playing? How much did you watch Wimbledon in particular or even the Olympic tennis?

SIMONA HALEP: I didn't watch. Honestly I didn't watch. Just a few balls, few games. But I didn't pay attention. It was too, like, painful to watch the matches. When you are injured, you feel sad and disappointed. It's not really good, in my opinion, to stay and watch matches.

But the time home was great. I was with my family. I was with my friends. So I needed this break to recharge my batteries, mentally first and of course physically because of the injury.

It's not good in the middle of the year to get that break. Still I see the better part. It was good to recover a little bit.