Former world No.1 Simona Halep has confirmed that a familiar face has returned to her team.
Speaking with reporters at the Miami Open on Wednesday, the French Open champion has appointed compatriot Daniel Dobre as her head coach. Dobre had previously worked with her during 2015 and beyond alongside Darren Cahill. He is also a former mentor of Alexandra Dulgheru.
“I have a Romanian coach, someone I’ve worked with before, even during my time with Darren,” Halep said during the WTA Access Hour at the Miami Open on Wednesday. “His name is Daniel Dobre. We worked before Darren as well, so he knows me pretty well, and I feel happy with this decision.”
Halep has been on the search for a coach since the ending of her highly successful collaboration with Darren Cahill in November. Cahill, who is a former top 15 doubles player himself, called it quits due to family reasons. Since then, the 27-year-old had a brief stint with Thierry Van Cleemput. However, that partnership was short-lived.
“So we tried for one week and it’s finished,” Halep told WTA Insider last month. “We decided to stop because we are not a good fit together. He’s a good person, a very nice person, but on court the chemistry is not there.”
“We couldn’t fit each other tennis-wise. Personally, he is a very nice person. We are friends.”
Currently ranked third in the WTA rankings, Halep enters this week’s Miami Open with a win-loss record of 12-5 so far this season. Reaching the final of the Doha Open last month. More recently she suffered a shock loss in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells to Marketa Vondrousova.
Chasing after her first title since the Canadian Open last August, the Romanian has said she hopes for form a good ‘connection’ with Dobre.
“I trust him, and we had a good collaboration in the past,” Halep explained. “The most important thing is that I feel good with him. We have a good connection, and it makes things easier.”
“I need to feel a connection, inspiration. You always want a coach with the best technique, but after 20 years of playing tennis, you can’t change much technically or tactically. For me, the most important thing is connection.” She added.
Halep, who is seeded second in Miami, will play either Taylor Townsend or Johanna Larsson in her opening match.
