ROLAND GARROS

May 24, 2022

Simona Halep

Press Conference

S. HALEP/N. Schunk

6-4, 1-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Tough fight out there tonight. Can you just talk us through the match a little bit.

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, it was a tough match. First round is always difficult. She was playing really well. So I'm really pleased with the victory. It's important, so every match is important.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Through that first set, can you just talk through kind of how you were feeling, maybe frustrated, I would presume, nerves, I don't know, and then how you were able to settle down and turn it around.

SIMONA HALEP: Well, I was down 3-0 in the first set and I found a way to stay focused and to fight for the set. Second set I was not able to do that. She played really well. I went a little bit down.

But then in the third set I restarted everything. I just fought for every ball. I restart in my mind. I did what I had to do, and I felt more confident, I felt better. So I found the rhythm.

I'm happy with the way I finished the match.

Q. Welcome back to Roland Garros.

SIMONA HALEP: Thank you.

Q. How much pressure are you putting on yourself to play well here at Roland Garros? Also, how much pressure are you putting on yourself to speak perfect French now that you have just told the crowd here at Roland Garros, millions watching around the world, that because you have a French coach you are now going to learn French?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, hopefully I put as much as possible pressure because I love pressure, so it's good to have it, and it's, you know, keeps you focused.

About the second one, the pressure is not really on me, because I don't speak French at all. The pressure is on my coach to teach me how to speak French. Probably in the future I will be able to just have some words in French, but for the moment, I will focus on tennis. So I will keep that.

Q. Looking ahead, I'm curious if you know very much about your next opponent, Zheng Qinwen, at all?

SIMONA HALEP: I think I played against her, no?

Q. Oh, yeah, you did. Can you talk about her as an opponent and what the challenge is.

SIMONA HALEP: She's super young. I know that.

Q. She's very young and she's playing quite well this year, yeah.

SIMONA HALEP: Everyone is playing well, so it's a big challenge every match. At least we are at Grand Slam, so it's always tough. But I'm here to face these challenges, and I'm here to give my best. So I will focus on myself. I will try to do what I have to do, and that's it. Then we will see.

Q. Could you talk to us about what the last year has been like for you, the ups and downs, and any happy memories that you have got coming back to Roland Garros.

SIMONA HALEP: I love so much this year that I don't want even to think about last year. So it's past.

I'm happy with the way I am now. Everything, it's good. I'm excited every day to wake up and to do my job. Last year was last year. It's finished.

Q. Does it feel any different this year coming back to Roland Garros at all? Like whether it's externally expectations or the grounds look different? You're the most experienced player here at Roland Garros in terms of the number of matches played. Does it feel different this year?

SIMONA HALEP: No, it feels like home, like always. I love this tournament. I have great memories, many matches, as you said. In juniors, as well.

No, it feels great. I feel great. I'm looking forward for the next one. It's just everything I want to do to play here.

Q. For any of the players competing here at Roland Garros, what does it take to go all the way and win it?

SIMONA HALEP: To win every match I play (smiling). Yeah. To play as good as I can. To stay, you know, like confident every match.

But I will think about the next round only, and then if I will win it, I will think about the next one.

I don't want to look further than that. It's important to just stay focused and to play the next match.