Tuesday, August 11th 2020

Simona Halep won her opening match of the WTA Prague Open on Tuesday, defeating Polona Hercog 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (7/3) to relaunch a season disrupted for nearly six months by the pandemic.

Top seed Halep needed two and a half hours to overcome Slovenian world number 46 Hercog on clay in the Czech capital, blowing six (6) match points in the decider before prevailing in a tie-break.

The second-ranked Halep will meet Barbora Krejcikova in the round of 16. "She's very good... plays flat," says Halep.

Krejcikova on Halep: 'To me, I think Simona is just a very nice person. Every time I see her in the locker room she is always smiling and saying "Hi!" Always asking how we are doing. I think she is just a wonderful person and I really admire her."

“I’m happy because I could win after a six-month break,” the 28-year-old Romanian told a news conference. I would have liked to finished quicker but I really wanted to win.

“I felt tension in my back after the first set, even though it was short and I played well." Simo did some stretching during the post-match recovery; a massage will follow and tomorrow morning, she will see how she feels about it... hopes for a full recovery to then be ready for the next match.

"The level was really high in the first set," recalled Halep. "I didn't miss and I found the court very well - I knew where I hit, I knew every ball, I had the touch and the feeling."

“After the second set, I felt tired ["because I did not play on Tour for 6 months now"]. But I knew she was in the same position so I just had to stick to the plan and fight - the fighting helped me to win the match. “Sometimes it’s good to call it a good match - but I don’t wish for the next one to play three hours!”

"I knew it was going to be difficult," said Halep afterwards, referring to her rivalry with Hercog. "All our matches were very tough and very long," recalled Halep. "She knows me pretty well, we played in juniors. She changes the rhythm, she plays drop-shots, a little bit softer then harder, so it was tougher for me to be in the point."

"I didn't get upset, which I'm very proud of!" laughed Halep about the dramatic close to the match. "I just fought, I knew that if I had those chances I would have another one." NEXT time, I should have more patience and get the ball in play.

“Emotionally it’s not easy, but we have to adjust - we live in tough times,” Halep said. “I’m all in and respect everything.”

... didn't make a decision regarding the US OPEN yet - shall decide after this tournament in Prague.

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