2014 finalist and third seed Simona Halep saved a match point to come back from a set down to defeat fifth seed Elina Svitolina 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 and reach the French Open semifinals.
Third seed and former finalist Simona Halep staged a dramatic comeback, saving a match point to down fifth seed Elina Svitolina 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 and reach her second French Open semifinal. Halep, who is seeking her first career Grand Slam title, had four set points earlier in the second set but failed to convert any, before playing some gutsy tennis to save match point and eventually move into the last four at Roland Garros in around two hours.
In the opening set, it was Svitolina dominating early on, holding to love in the first game before going up 15-40 on the Halep serve, squandering two break points only to take the third and grab the early break. The fifth seed consolidated the advantage by saving a break point, following that up with the double break once again on her third time of asking, going up 4-0. Halep’s struggles to close out games continued as the Romanian let four break points go, giving the Ukrainian the 5-0 advantage. Serving to stay in the first set, Halep finally got on the board, saving a set point to hold on for 5-1.
Looking to serve out the opening set, Svitolina’s serve was under siege by third-seeded Halep, as the 2014 finalist took her third break point of the game to break the Ukrainian. Halep held serve to consolidate that break but her efforts were to no avail as a determined Svitolina served the opening set out on her second time of asking to wrap it up 6-3.
The fifth seed got out to a fast start in the second as well, breaking Halep immediately before riding that advantage to a 3-1 lead. Svitolina continued to wreak havoc on the Romanian’s serve, breaking to love yet again to go up a double break 4-1. After the Ukrainian took care of her service game to put herself up 5-1 and a game from the last four in Paris, the nerves began to set in for Svitolina as Halep held to love to force the fifth seed and Rome champion to serve out the big win.
Svitolina could not do so as the former finalist upped her level when it counted, breaking a distraught Svitolina to bring the deficit to only a solitary break for the Ukrainian. Halep kept applying the pressure on her 22-year-old opponent, holding yet again to force Svitolina to serve it out for a second time at 5-4 after being two points from defeat. Attempting to stop Halep’s run of three straight games. the fifth seed was looking to serve out the match and book herself a spot in the semifinals, but the third seed had different plans, breaking an understandably tight Svitolina to level the match at 5 games apiece.
Halep took care of her serve routinely the following game before Svitolina got out to love-40 in the next service game, serving to stay in the second set. From love-40 up three break points came and went for Halep, before some more brilliant play from Svitolina saved the fourth, as the Ukrainian held to force a tiebreak.
In the breaker, it was Svitolina seizing the early mini-break, going up 4-2 only for the Romanian third seed to peg right back for 4-3. Halep held her next two service points before Svitolina did the same, bringing up a match point for the Ukrainian at 6-5. Some gutsy play from the 2014 finalist paid dividends, fighting on to get to 6-all before two more aggressive points from Halep did the trick, forcing a third set after taking the second by the narrowest of margins 7-6.
In the third and deciding set, it was all Halep as a distraught Svitolina gave up the break in the first game before the Romanian went on a tear, taking a routine hold the next game before continuing to have her way with the fifth seed’s serve, claiming the double break for a 3-0 advantage. Things went from bad to worse for the Ukrainian, as Halep went on to win nine of the last 12 games of the match, breaking one again for the triple break and a seemingly insurmountable 5-0 lead. Showing incredible mental resilience, Halep served out the comeback victory to love, downing Svitolina 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 to reach her second French Open semifinal.
Following her Houdini act on the Terre Battue of Roland Garros, Halep described her Herculean comeback victory saying, “Well, after the match straight, I felt the same thing that I feel now. I feel that she played unbelievable tennis first set until the end of the second set, 5-1.
She played well, but also I played a little bit short, I think. My ball was not going as long as I wanted, but she was dominating the match. I just sat down at 5-2. I said that the match is lost. So I did nothing to change something, to change the rhythm, that’s it. It’s over.”
“And then I started to feel more relaxed maybe because I thought it’s finished, and I change the rhythm. I put some high balls. I just tried to make her move more, to open the court, and it came. I don’t know how, but it was really good. Also, the set ball with the net, I was finally lucky in this match, because before she was, like, all the lines, all the nets,” said a very candid Halep.
“But I believed that it’s gonna come, it’s gonna turn something around, and that’s it. I’m just happy. I am not thinking about how it was. I just take the fight thing, that I was fighting till the end, and I enjoy,” commented the third seed and former finalist.
After Halep’s coach Darren Cahill quit due to her poor, negative attitude against Johanna Konta two months ago at the Miami Open, Halep has done a complete 180, turning around her formerly detrimental attitude into a fighter’s mindset, something that served her well today. After showing improved mental strength in April in Fed Cup and Stuttgart, Cahill began working with the Romanian again, defending her title in Madrid and reach her first final in Rome.
Asked about how Cahill’s ultimatum to her has changed her mindset on court, the world number four said, “Yeah, I think today I showed that I’m stronger mentally. I stayed there till the end, even if I was a little bit upset during the match. But was all positive.”
Up next for Halep in the semifinals is second seed Karolina Pliskova, with number one ranking implications on the line. With a win tomorrow in Paris for the Czech, Pliskova will claim the number one ranking for the first time from Angelique Kerber, while for Halep, a title here at Roland Garros guarantees the Romanian will hold the top spot for the first time as well. Halep and Pliskova will face off tomorrow on Court Philippe Chatrier in Paris, with potentially the number one ranking and a spot in the French Open final on the line.
Asked about her last four opponent, Halep concluded with, ” First will be very different, very different match than today, so is gonna come, like, the ball machine. Tomorrow I have to be strong on my legs. Just belief. I cannot say about the tactic, because it’s tough against her.”
“I never played on clay, I think, against her. So it’s gonna be a good challenge, something new. But I know that she’s a very big hitter. I have just to change something there. I will see tomorrow.”
