World number two Simona Halep survived a tough test at the Prague Open, in her first WTA match since the resumption of the Tour.

Halep prevailed 6-1, 1-6, 7-6(3) against Polona Hercog of Slovenia in the Round of 32 match at the clay-court event in the Czech Republic. The top seed needed as many as seven match points to seal the deal

The first set was comfortable for Halep as she cruised to a 6-1 scoreline in very quick time. She then lost her rhythm as Hercog upped her game to take the set from the top seed by the same scoreline.

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Simona Halep prevails in exciting three-set battle

The start of the third set once again saw both players trouble each other on serve. Halep had a break-point in the second game of the set, but Hercog held her nerve. The Romanian star then had to save a break-point on her own serve in the very next game to go 2-1 up.

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She then wasted no time and earned a break of serve in the very next game. Halep’s struggle on serve was apparent once again, as she was broken in the very next game and things were level again.

Both players then held strong on serve over the new few games. Halep then upped the ante and broke to go 5-3 up. Hercog, though, refused to quit and broke once again in a match that saw 12 breaks of serve. Hercog’s struggle on serve was just too much for her as Halep went three match-points up. But the Slovenian denied Halep once again.

The top seed then had another chance to seal the match on her opponent’s serve at 6-5, but Hercog saved three more match points to take things to a tie-break.

Seeing so many match-points wasted would have been demoralizing for most players, but Halep showed her class. She got the break for 4-2 in the tie-break and then ran through to finally earn the win.

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Halep to partner Strycova in Prague doubles

Halep will face Barbora Krejcikova – who beat Patricia Maria Tig 6-4, 6-3 – in the next round.

The 28-year-old is also part of the doubles draw where she will partner doubles veteran Barbora Strycova who is world number two in doubles.

The Prague Open could turn out to be the ideal event for Halep to find her game again after a long break, given her past record on clay.

Halep had recently expressed her doubts about participation at the US Open. She is on the entry list for the event but is still unsure whether she will travel for the event. Halep said that she will take a final call after the Prague Open.

Source – Twitter: WTA, WTA

“We Are Still Struggling”- Simona Halep Ahead of Tennis’ Resumption at Prague Open 2020