MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 2, 2022

Simona Halep

Press Conference

S. HALEP/C. Gauff

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you just talk through the match, first of all, in terms of how well you played and also how you came back in the second set?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, I think I played very well in the first set. When I stayed super focused at 4-All, was really important, have been a little bit more stronger. You know, that was the difference.

The second set, she changed the tactic and she's been super, super aggressive. It was really tough to return the balls. But then I just calmed down and I found the rhythm. I adjusted myself to her game, and in the end, it was super good that I could actually push her back a little bit.

Q. We were speaking to Ons earlier about potentially playing you or Coco. When she described Coco, she called her an octopus, someone who is able to reach all the balls. You are someone who reaches a lot of balls also, but when you saw her retrieving, there were some crazy points in there, how would you describe her?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, yeah, I know she's very athletic, she's running super, super well and moving great. I think she's a great player and she's super young, so she has so many years ahead. For sure she will be in the top. I really believe that.

And the serve, 201 today, it was huge. Her game, in my opinion, is much better on clay because the forehand spin is really bothering.

Q. Plenty of experts describe Ons Jabeur's game as very tricky, she doesn't often let you to get rhythm throughout the match. What are the difficulties you're willing to overcome against her?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, exactly what you said. She's different. She's a great person, first of all, because we get so well together. It's always nice to talk to her. But every time on court is a big fight, big battle. I'm expecting a big one next round.

But I'm here just to give my best, as I said every day. I feel good on court, I feel my game. I'm just looking forward to play it and to fight for it.

Q. Is it fun to play her, to try and figure out all this?

SIMONA HALEP: Not really. Not really fun because you never know what to expect. She's super talented, and it's tough (smiling). But I won against her, so there is a chance for me, as well.

Q. I think both times you beat her were in Dubai, which is almost like a home tournament for her, there is always the crowd, which maybe you like to play maybe against the crowd, but you have a lot of fans there too. I'm wondering how different would it be playing her in these conditions over here?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, it will be different because I think we didn't play on clay, so it's going to be a totally different match. I like to have crowd, of course, everyone likes, and in Dubai it was, yeah, it was pretty tough because everybody was with her.

But sometimes I get the energy also from the crowd, like here with Paula Badosa, so I don't struggle with that. I love the energy on court and I love the atmosphere. So it's good to have people than not to have people. So it will be good.

Q. 30th win in the main draw today here in Madrid. You have only won more matches at Australia and Paris, main draw. So it's always been a very successful tournament for you in Madrid. What does this tournament mean to you throughout your career?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, it means a lot because I feel great. I like the conditions. The people are very nice to me.

I will always have a warm welcome. Everyone makes me feel like home. In the past, Mr. Tiriac owned this tournament and I felt like actually I'm playing home.

But now, yeah, it's the same thing. Everyone is nice to me. It's a special tournament and forever will be the same.

Q. As this is your first tournament with Patrick, I'm curious, in tournament have you made adjustments or changes to what your routines are with him? What is different, I guess, at a tournament with Patrick?

SIMONA HALEP: We changed many things, but we changed them very natural. I didn't feel that I'm forced where I didn't feel that it's tough to change. It came very natural.

Now I feel like I have been forever like that. It's a nice atmosphere, nice energy, good energy, actually, and he's supporting me a lot, because I'm an emotional person, so he knows how to talk to me, how to put, you know, to talk if we have a situation that we have to solve.

So until now, everything is good.

Q. As of today's rankings, WTA rankings, Ons Jabeur is the only top-10 player left in the main draw.

SIMONA HALEP: Whoa.

Q. What's your perception of this fact?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, I would have said that WTA tennis is very open, and anyone can win any tournament. So I'm not very surprised. I know that everyone is working hard and everyone has a chance.

I don't look at the rankings that much, but it's pretty amazing that only Ons is top 10 at this tournament. It's a big tournament. Yeah, we will see (smiling).

Q. Three matches and no sets lost. Do you expect to win in straight sets this week?

SIMONA HALEP: It's good to win in two sets, definitely. I didn't focus on that. I just focused to do my game, to be focused for every point I play, and to, yeah, to give my best. It's all I think about. It's been good so far.

Q. You have told us earlier this week that you have come to trust Patrick fairly quickly. I'm curious, is that something that comes easy to you, or is trust one of the more difficult things? Why do you think you were able to trust him so fast?

SIMONA HALEP: No, it's not easy for me. Nothing, and I'm sure you know it (smiling).

I'm very introverted in general, and, yeah, I don't trust easy. I need to feel comfortable. With him, I felt comfortable, and I felt like he really appreciates my game, the way I am. It was easy to communicate. It was easy to explain what I'm going through during the matches, before the matches, after the matches.

So we talked very natural and very open, so this way he could help me straightaway.