Simona Halep’s preparation for next week’s Wimbledon Championships has consisted of injury scares and disappointment, but it hasn’t affected her desire for a strong run at the upcoming tournament.
Since her fourth round loss to Sam Stosur at the French Open, the world No.5 hasn’t played a match on the tour. Her first tournament on the grass was due to be the Birmingham International, however, she was forced to withdraw due to an Achilles injury. Halep was advised by doctors to rest ‘for a couple days’ after they found some fluid inside her tendon.
The withdrawal means that the former French Open runner-up will enter Wimbledon without playing any competitive matches on the grass this year. She isn’t the only player entering the tournament will a lack of grass-court action. World No.1 Serena Williams opted to skip the warmup tournaments and just focus on proceedings at SW19.
“It’s really nice to be here at Wimbledon, I really like this tournament.” Halep said during an interview with Wimbledon.com.
“It’s tough to play on the grass, but I’m use to it already. I have had a few days practicing.”
Wimbledon has brought mixed fortunes for the Romanian. At the 2014 tournament she reached the semifinals before losing to Eugenie Bouchard. The run is so far her stand out achievement at the tournament in her career. In her other appearances, Halep has suffered a series of first and second round defeats at the grass-court major.
“I’m confident on the grass, but I have to play a lot before to feel the ball.” She admitted about her game on the grass.
Another run to the semifinals and beyond at SW19 is certainly possible for the 24-year-old in what has been a roller coaster year for her. Hampered by injury issues at the start of the year, Halep struck gold during the clay court season when she won her first title of the year at the Madrid Open. Converting her solid performance on the clay to glory on the grass is never easy and the Romanian is remaining realistic about her Wimbledon chances.
“It would be a nice dream to play in the semifinals again,” she said about her Wimbledon goal.
“I know how difficult it is. I will have to take it match by match and see how far I will go.”
Halep will be seeded fifth at Wimbledon, which will start on Monday. She will be hoping to seek redemption at the venue following her first round exit to Jana Cepelova last year.
