‘That’s life, I have to accept’- Simona Halep

Simona Halep is well ahead of the Dane Caroline Wozniacki in the WTA rankings, despite her early exit at the US open. Halep was back at the China Open this week where she was looking to cement her position at the top spot. “It’s been a great year”, says Simona. “I feel really pleased with what I’ve done. To be No. 1 in the world means something special. Also to win a Grand Slam is even more special for me. I try just enjoy this moment.”

Halep also expressed her disappointment for not doing well at the US open twice in two years.  “Well, I worked at home really hard at the US Open. I work hard, I was really upset I lost in first round again, two years in a row. That’s life, I have to accept”, says Halep. “But I cannot change things like this because we cannot control. Here, I’m coming still positive. I’m trying to recover very well, just to be able to play at the highest level and try to win some matches.”

The world number one also said that unlike her previous years she has been training to improve all the shots in the book and not just her forehand or backhand or volley. “Well, I wanted to work on everything, not like last year”, she says. “This time I was working with everything. I want just to become stronger with forehand, backhand, also at the net. So I’ve been working with everything.” She also said, “I feel that it worked. But now to be at the highest level of my physical stuff, but I’m pretty confident that I have another chance to finish this year strong.”

The Romanian had to retire in the first round of the China open in the second set after she lost the first one against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. Halep had the same back problems that forced her out of the Wuhan open. “There is a pain,” Halep added. “I don’t know exactly what it is, I will have an MRI and I will see. I’m just worried now. I feel sad I couldn’t finish. That’s why I stopped, because I felt like it’s getting worse if I continue.”