Former world No. 1 Simona Halep says mentally and physically she is doing well as she believes she is a better person and player than she was when she captured her second National Bank Open title in 2018. On Friday, Halep fended off French Open runner- up Cori Gauff 6-4 7-6 (2) in the National Bank Open quarterfinal.
The National Bank Open is one year held in Toronto and the other in Montreal. Both of Halep’s two National Bank Open titles came when the tournament was held in Montreal. On Friday, Halep defeated Gauff in Toronto.
“Mentally I’m strong, even if I struggled a little bit in the second set. I had the power to stay there and to finish it. So I feel the game is good. Physically I’m good. Mentally I’m good . So I think it’s all positive,” Halep said after the match, per Sportskeeda.
Halep: I’m a better person, a better player
“Four years, yeah, I’ve changed a lot, as a person as well. As a player, I don’t know what exactly I did but I feel like I improved in many aspects. Pandemic came so I think it was a little bit of struggling for everybody.
But I’m a better person. I’m a better player. So this helps me and gives me confidence to work hard and to look forward for the next tournament. And just to fight for every match I play. I think this is the best thing to do after so many years on tour,” Halep added.
In April, Halep hired Serena Williams’ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Halep is 30 but is feeling well and she is hoping to do more major things before she retires. Halep is currently a two-time Grand Slam champion and has been the top- ranked player in the world. Halep enjoyed a good Wimbledon run but failed to win it all after losing to Elena Rybakina in the semifinal.