NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 14, 2022

Simona Halep

Press Conference

S. HALEP/B. Haddad Maia

6-3, 2-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Simona, congratulations. Your third title here in Canada. How do you feel about that?

SIMONA HALEP: It makes it even more special because I really wanted to win it in Toronto as well. Here there are many Romanians and they always come to support me. So I'm really happy that I could win also here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Obviously there was a lot of Romanian fans in the crowd. You sort of alluded to it. But how much of a difference does it make for you and maybe for your opponent to have such vocal support, even when you're not in Romania?

SIMONA HALEP: Well, for me it's great to have such a big support because it's, like, pushing you in tough moments. And they were cheering for me every single point, even if I was down during the match. It's super important because you feel that you have so many people next to you, and you feel stronger a little bit.

But today was a great atmosphere for her as well. So I think the match was great because we've been pushed so much by the crowd as well.

Q. Beatriz has beaten a lot of her opponents with her blistering serve and like a crushing forehand. So I'm wondering how did you sort of counter that pace in this final?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, at the start it was really tough. And she's lefty, so it's coming different, the spin. She's very powerful. She's solid. And it's never easy to play against her. I played on grass court. She beat me a few weeks ago, a few months ago. So I knew that it was going to be a good challenge and a good fight.

So it's been a battle today, and I'm really happy that I could actually be more stronger in the important moments.

Q. It was a slow start for you. You were down 3-Love in the first set before coming back. Looked to be struggling with your serve. Was that sort of nervous emotions and how did you sort of manage that and turn things around?

SIMONA HALEP: Of course, every time I have emotions before the matches. But normally I get rid of them fast. But today also her spin, I needed time a little bit to get used to it. And, yeah, I just calmed down after 0-3. Then I think I found a good rhythm. I played what I had to play. That's why I could win six games in a row.

Q. The coaching of Patrick is based on the individual approach for every single player. Why do you think maybe it is that nobody else have seen before him about you?

SIMONA HALEP: Think that he seen?

Q. He seen something about you.

SIMONA HALEP: If he accepted to work with me means that he feels that I can play good tennis, in my opinion. And he had the confidence that I'm still able to win titles.

Yeah, he sees many things. It's really good to have a great connection with a coach because you can improve so much. If he feels you, it's much better to work on some things that are tough sometimes.

Q. Maybe just a quick word about Arnaud.

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, it's a great guy. We practice almost every day together. He's very positive. I'm really happy to have him on my team.

Q. You're back in the top 10 now. I believe it was a year ago that you fell out of the top 10. So when you look back at this year, can you just maybe describe what makes this even more special now that you're not just winning but back in the top 10 at No. 6 in the world, I believe.

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I've been many years there. But now I feel like it's a big deal to be back in top 10. I'm really happy with this performance.

When I started the year I was not very confident and I set the goal to be, at the end of the year, top 10. And here I am. So it's very special moment. I will enjoy it. I will give myself credit. I'm just dreaming for more.

Q. How was hard this moment today for you?

SIMONA HALEP: It was a hard match, difficult match, because she played really, really well. She's a very tough opponent. She fought very hard until the end. So I had to stay there. I had to run sometimes a lot. But I also believed until the end that I have the chance to win the match.

Q. This is your third title in Canada. How does this win compare to your victories in 2016 and 2018?

SIMONA HALEP: Oh, well it's tough to compare. I'm a different person. I've changed so much.

But the happiness of winning a title is the same. This tournament is pretty big tournament. It's a great tournament. Many players are playing here. Many top players, actually. So, yeah, it's a great victory, in my opinion. I really take it with both hands. I will give myself extra boost to believe that there is more to come.

Q. You were asked about the hardest moment of the match. I mean, can you talk about your mindset in your service game where you had four double-faults?

SIMONA HALEP: Oh, yeah, terrible. Yeah, I know, I've been stressed a little bit. I didn't expect to do four double-faults in one game. I don't know if it happened before.

But sometimes you have to accept that you are not great in some moments, and still fighting to calm down and to get the confidence back.

In the end, it was much better serving.

Q. Just wondering what you and your team are planning to do to celebrate, and whether you'll be seeing a bunch of the Hungarian [sic] fans in Toronto or what you're doing next?

SIMONA HALEP: We're going to celebrate tomorrow on court because I'm going to Cincinnati. So I'm going to practice. That will be the celebration. There's no time for celebration. That's what I mean. I have another tournament. I will try to recover as much as possible and to be ready for the next match.

And the fans, the Romanian fans were amazing and I really want to thank them for coming and for supporting me.