THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2022

Simona Halep

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/S. Halep

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Simona, tough loss today. Just give us your thoughts.

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I really think that she played really well. It was a high level from her. Today was not good enough to match that. Yeah, all the credit to her for the match that she played.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What do you think you could have done differently today?

SIMONA HALEP: To serve. To serve a little bit better (smiling).

I improved a lot in my serve the last three months. But today I feel like I went back to my normal one. Many double-faults and too soft.

Definitely if I would have had a better serve today, would have been better.

Q. Have you got an explanation about your serve?

SIMONA HALEP: In this moment, no. But it happens. I had three months of changing things, so probably I need more time to just fix them and to keep them every day.

Today probably I was a little bit tired, and it didn't work.

Q. Given your injury problems and all the troubles of last season, how much confidence do you gain out of this run at Wimbledon for the rest of the season?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, I think the last four weeks were pretty good. I take all the positives from those weeks.

I have confidence because I showed myself that I can play good tennis. But, yeah, today probably was a little bit too much.

But, yeah, I take it as it is, and I'm looking forward to work the same way. I'm sure that it's going to be better the next week.

Q. Just on her level today, can you talk about what it is like to face her serve in particular, but also just her level in terms of shot-making. Were you waiting for it to drop at some point?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, definitely her level was very high today. She played really well. She was very solid, consistent. Yeah, didn't drop, the level.

But I didn't do much. Somehow I think I gave her the perfect ball to do her game, to feel comfortable on court.

But, as I said, all the credit to her. She deserved to win today with the way I played.

Q. You're one of the smartest players on tour. How do you assess Saturday's final?

SIMONA HALEP: Interesting. Yeah, now I'm thinking about it, it's not easy to answer because I don't know Rybakina is going to respond to Jabeur's game. It's changing the rhythm, it's cutting the rhythm with many slices. Jabeur, she's serving well.

Yeah, it's going to be interesting. I cannot say that Rybakina can keep this level. But probably she would if she really feels confident.

So it's going to be interesting to work, and I will watch it.

Q. I think you're playing Washington.

SIMONA HALEP: Yes.

Q. What are your goals for the U.S. swing this year?

SIMONA HALEP: My goal right now is a holiday because I worked a lot (smiling). I need a little bit of rest.

My goal is like the goal I came here, just to improve in myself and to do what I want to do on court: to be more aggressive, to be creative, and keep the same level every day.

I kept it, but today was not good enough. I was not good enough.