TENNIS ROLAND GARROS – Simona Halep was the only seeded player to stay true to form as made it to the semifinals. Today, she exceeded that ranking when she got to her first major final by beating Andrea Petkovic in straight sets 6-2 7-6(4). Cordell Hackshaw
Interviews, Results, OOP, Draws from the Roland Garros
Simona Halep (4) is the highest ranked player in the women’s draw. This is hardly surprising as she held this distinction by end the end of the first week here at the French Open. However, she was the only seeded player to stay true to form as made it to the semifinals. Today, she exceeded that ranking when she got to her first major final by beating Andrea Petkovic (28) in straight sets 6-2 7-6(4). In fact, her road to the final almost marks the distinction of a number one player as Halep never dropped a set much less faced a set point in any of her six matches. She has definitely shown here in Paris, maturity and court sense that belies her youthful 22-year-old self.
Both Halep and Petkovic were in their first major semifinal but it was the young Romanian who settled down first. She broke Petkovic in her opening service game and held serve for 2-0. Petkovic remained unsure of herself and Halep continued to capitalize on the German’s errors. Soon, Halep would earn a second break and serve out the set 6-2 after 28 minutes. “I feel like the first set Simona played really great tennis, and I had trouble getting into my rhythm and trouble with my footwork. I wasn’t really on fire. But she played really well. She was taking the ball early and dominating the game and playing great angles,” Petkovic said of the 1st set. Petkovic had 3 winners and 14 errors in the 1st set compared to the 12 winners and 7 errors from Halep.
In the 2nd set, Petkovic found her timing and began to sink her teeth into the match. She broke Halep in the 4th game to go up 3-1. However, whilst up 40-15 on her serve, Petkovic allowed Halep back into the game and was broken. Halep levelled the set at 3-3. Again Petkovic led 40-15 on her serve only to allow Halep to get a look at a possible break but this time around, the German remained steely and held serve for 4-3. She was attempting to put scoreboard pressure on Halep but the Romanian was determined not to be broken again. She levelled it at 4-4. When Petkovic held serve and forced Halep to serve to stay in the set down 4-5, Halep held at love. Halep then applied the pressure on the Petkovic who too showed grit as she lead 6-5. Halep held at love to force the tiebreaker.
Halep raced out to a 4-1 lead but Petkovic fought her way back to 3-4 at which point, she committed a careless error to see Halep gain a 5-4 lead with two serves to close out the match. Against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals, Halep found difficulty serving out the match. However, for a place in the final, Halep was perfect. She served it out with a forehand volley and after an hour and a half, she was on her way to the final 6-2 7-6(4).
Halep had this to say after the match, “It was very tough match. Emotional, also. I was very nervous. But, yeah, I was a little bit stronger I think in the end, in the tiebreak, and I could win the match in two sets. I feel amazing, and it’s incredible feeling to can play a final at Grand Slam.” Halep will be facing none other than “Comeback Queen” Maria Sharapova (7) for the title on Saturday. Sharapova beat Halep several weeks ago to win the Madrid title. Halep spoke of the matchup “I don’t know how I have to play to beat Maria…But if I can beat Maria, better to say. But I have to take that revenge. I will fight for this one…I have to be aggressive again, to play fast, like my style, and to stay there with the nerves. It will be a tough moment for me. I know. I’m sure that will be.”
