THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2022

Simona Halep

Press Conference

S. HALEP/A. Anisimova

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Simona, give us your thoughts. You're through to the semifinals.

SIMONA HALEP: I'm really happy to be back in semis here in Wimbledon. It's one of my favorite tournaments, so it's pretty special. It's been a great match today, and I'm really pleased with the way I played.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In 2019 you had that magical ride. How would you describe your journey this time to this point?

SIMONA HALEP: I'm different. I play different. I play well now. All the matches were different than in 2019. So I'm just taking the confidence, I'm taking the pleasure of being on the court.

I think every match I got a little bit better. I had tough opponents, and I did what I had to do every day.

Q. How do you feel about what you've accomplished?

SIMONA HALEP: I feel super happy about it. I struggled a lot, as I said many times. Now being in the semis of a Grand Slam, it means a lot. I will take it. I will give myself the credit that I've been really good this period of two, three months. I work hard.

It's just joy to be back in the semifinal of a Grand Slam really.

Q. You play tomorrow, which I guess would ordinarily be a challenge. You've been racing through your matches. I guess you feel pretty fresh and ready to go.

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I feel ready to go. I feel good physically. Mentally, as well.

Yeah, I feel ready for tomorrow. Is the same thing for her, she played today also. So, yeah, I'm not thinking about these things. I'm just thinking that I have a very nice chance to play semis in Wimbledon.

Q. Wimbledon is a place of tradition. One of the traditions is the defending champion gets to open Centre Court the following year. For three years you haven't been able to enjoy that for different circumstances. One way to ensure you do get to enjoy that tradition is to win the title again. Is that something that's been on your mind at all?

SIMONA HALEP: At the start of the tournament I said this because I've been asked. Is the only chance that I can open this tournament is to win again.

I'm in the semis, but I'm still far. So I will take tomorrow as a new challenge, big challenge, and I will give my best. If there is a chance to win this tournament, I will take it. I will work hard to take it.

Q. What were you thinking when she started slashing winners towards the end?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, was not easy at all because I feel like she played without thinking that she has something to lose, so every ball was really hard hit.

But I refused that she's going to come at 5-All. Even if I was 0-40, I was hard a little bit on myself. I pumped myself. I served very well.

Yeah, I believed I could finish the match 6-4. I really believed it.

Q. Amanda was talking about how she got quite upset and emotional in the game. Head in the towel, seemed to be crying. How do you feel being up the other end of the court in that instance as a human? Does it affect you at all when you see an opponent in that kind of state?

SIMONA HALEP: I'm not seeing what the opponent is doing because I'm really focused on myself. I've always done that.

But, yeah, I can imagine it's pretty emotional to play on Centre Court, quarterfinals in Wimbledon, the tournament is super special. Probably the emotions are big.

She's been in this position in 2019. So probably, yeah. I don't know her very well.

I'm not focusing on the opponent that much. I'm focusing on myself. I've been through these emotions many years ago, and is not easy to handle.

But they are nice emotions, so next time she'll be better, for sure.

Q. I want to ask you about your relationship with grass. Your success came suddenly, then you seemed to be picking up right from where you left three years ago. How do you feel about the surface?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, I played semis few years ago in 2015, if I remember well. Then a few quarterfinals. I always had a good feeling with grass.

But, yes, in 2019 I started to feel really connected with it. I feel safe on my feet. So this helps me to be able to move relaxed and, yeah, to feel the game. So I really feel the game now.

Q. You just mentioned being in the semis in 2015. You're no stranger to the semifinals. What does it feel like when you walk onto the court for the semifinals? What do you think it will feel like when you do that this time?

SIMONA HALEP: It's different because in between were many years since my first semifinal. I am different as a person. I really believe that. I am stronger, like, with my emotions. I can control emotions much better. I have experience.

But it's always special when you step on the court in the semifinal of a Grand Slam. So I will see tomorrow and I will tell you what I'm going to feel. But it's going to be nice, for sure.

Q. Your next opponent, Elena Rybakina, she served 44 aces so far this tournament. What sort of adjustments are you going to have to make for the semifinal?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, to touch her serve first and to try to put it back on the court.

I know she's a big hitter. I played against her few times. I'm sure that she has a lot of confidence being in semis now here in Wimbledon.

But it's a new match, new challenge. I'm ready for it and I will try to give everything to take my chance.

Q. When you think about that final in 2019, what do you think about?

SIMONA HALEP: That was the perfect match of my life. Now I'm playing really well. I'm feeling confident that I feel the game the way I felt back then.

Yeah, only positive things, good memories. Yeah, I just feel good about it.

Q. You said you control your emotions much better these days. Is that because you're more experienced, more mature, or are there specific things you've done that help you to do that?

SIMONA HALEP: Experience, many matches. I've been in this position. So when you are in this position the next time, you feel better. You feel like you've been there, you learned some things from those moments.

I am always open to learn. So every time I have something new inside myself about what happened, and I try and give my best to do better the next time.

Q. When you first started being coached by Patrick, you said he rekindled the joy and desire again. What is it about him that makes him such a good coach? You seem to have clicked very quickly.

SIMONA HALEP: Very quickly, yeah.

First he's a great person inside. We really connected from first minute. As a coach he talks super simple but super powerful. I take everything he tells me super good and positive, and I can actually put in practical. So it's easy for me to get the information and to display it.

Yeah, he's positive, as I said. He trusted in myself that I still can be a good player. He sent me somehow this confidence, and I started to believe in myself again that I have that chance to be a good player again.

Yeah, he thinks that everything is possible. So this helps me to trust a lot in what I'm doing.