INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 8, 2022

Simona Halep

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to Rome. Tell us about your preparation, looking back on the last couple weeks in Madrid and how you're feeling generally.

SIMONA HALEP: Well, thank you. It's great to be back in Roma because I love this place and I always played well.

Preparation was good. Every day I'm working hard. I feel ready. But every tournament is different. I'm looking forward just to start it and to give my best.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How are you reacting to your run in Madrid, especially also seeing Ons win the title? What are your thoughts on her win there?

SIMONA HALEP: She deserves to win the title because she played so well. 90% of the time when I lose at a tournament, the opponent wins the tournament, so it's a good thing I think (smiling).

You know, it's good to see her winning because she's top 10. I feel like she really loves to be there. To win a tournament as Madrid is super special, so I'm happy for her.

I took it as positive as possible, the tournament in Madrid. I had good matches. Now I'm just looking forward, nothing backwards.

Q. When your team changes, how much changes in your training sessions, how they're structured? Does a lot change?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, a lot. Many changes. Also the way I look at what I'm doing, what we are doing. So many changes. I need a little bit of time to adjust myself.

But I'm good. I feel good on court. The most important thing is that I love what I'm doing. This feeling helps me to wake up in the morning and to give my best every time I step on the court. In practice, as well.

Q. I'm writing about tennis balls. I was wondering what is the most challenging thing about playing with different types of tennis balls every week or every other few weeks, adjusting to them?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, conditions are always different. Also the balls. Also the courts. Altitude sometimes. It's never easy to adjust. That's why as much as possible we come, like, three days before so you can get the feeling. But it's for everybody the same. So, yeah, it's okay. After so many years, we got used to it.

Q. There's a match in the first round here between Emma Raducanu and Bianca Andreescu, who are part Romanian as well.

SIMONA HALEP: Romanian names, that's for sure (smiling).

Q. How much do you see them as part of the bigger Romanian tennis community?

SIMONA HALEP: How much...

Q. How much do you see them as part of the bigger Romanian tennis group?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, they never practiced in Romania, as I know, as far as I know. They never actually trained there, like playing tennis. So it's tough because I know them since I saw them on tour. Before, no. We didn't have connection before the tour.

Q. Have you spoken to them in Romanian, either of them?

SIMONA HALEP: No, English (smiling).

Q. Back to what you said about how everything about your training changes when you have a new team. To what extent do you come in and say these are the things I like to keep the same and I like to do because I've been No. 1, and to what extent do you give yourself over to the new team and accept it as a makeover almost?

SIMONA HALEP: The new team comes and tells me what I have to make some changes? This is what you're asking, and if I accepted?

Q. Yes.

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I trusted him 100% since the first moment. What he's telling me actually I accepted it because I know it's good for me. He knows better in this position because I was super down with myself, low confidence. So I trust him 100% and I'm doing super easy what he's saying. Actually I feel good. I have no problems with that.

But always it's tough when you change a team. So I need a little bit of time.

Q. How do you bond on a personal level, because you are such a low-key person, and Patrick...

SIMONA HALEP: What is that? I am relaxed? It's good if you see me relaxed (smiling).

Q. And Patrick is larger-than-life sometimes. Big personality.

SIMONA HALEP: He is. It's a big difference between us.

Q. How do you bond, given there is that difference?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, it doesn't bother me. I like it because he has a lot of energy. He's super open to everybody, so I have to learn that because I'm quiet and introverted.

But, no, I love his personality. It's easy for me. Actually he does more pictures than me with the fans. It's good.

Q. Clay season is pretty short overall. There are some players maybe you never played on clay.

SIMONA HALEP: Is there anyone I didn't play on clay?

Q. I think so. Probably. I'm guessing. Have you wished you could play a certain player on a certain surface just to see what it would be like?

SIMONA HALEP: No, no. I'm not thinking about that. When the draw is out, I just check, then I focus on what I have to do. But no, never.

Q. You mentioned that you're quiet and introverted. How has that changed over your career? As a tennis player, you have to speak to a lot of people, give press conferences. How different do you feel?

SIMONA HALEP: I've changed a lot. I'm a different person since actually as I started to be in the professional tennis. It's easier now to talk to you, to talk to everyone.

But still it's not my personality that open. I'm working hard on that. I love being open and to talk to people because it makes you feel nice, makes you feel better. I like to take energy from people, as well.

Q. How do you assess your year so far? You've had a lot of good wins. Are there some losses you kick yourself over and think you should have won?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I can say that some matches I could have won. But, you know, I'm coming after a tough year last year, so I will take only the good matches that I played. Even if I lost them, I really think I played a good tennis.

But the most important thing is that I saw I can reach again high level in tennis. That brings me a lot of positive and desire to keep working and to see if I can be in the top again.

This is the main goal now.

Q. Your first round opponent here is one of your tough losses this year, Alize Cornet. How do you assess that?

SIMONA HALEP: Different surface, different tournament, so I will see. She's very tough opponent. We always had battles when we played.

But I'm here, as I said, to give my best. I feel ready for the match. So we'll see tomorrow or when I play.

Q. You mentioned that you've been on tour for a long time. At what point did you start to feel like a veteran, I guess?

SIMONA HALEP: At what point?

Q. At what point did you start to feel like a veteran, one of the older ones?

SIMONA HALEP: When I touched 30, so not a long time ago. Like seven, eight months ago (laughter).

When I see these players at 18 winning, not easy, but it's okay (smiling).