Simona Halep is looking forward to future challenges after her long stint in the top 10 came to an end.
The Romanian managed to remain in the world’s top 10 for 373 consecutive weeks spanning over seven years.
However recently that milestone ended after suffering a bad Achilles injury in Rome, ensuring she was out of action for three months.
Now Halep looks to get her rightful place in the world’s top 10 back and when reflecting on the achievement she admitted it was a proud moment, “Now that I have time to think and I have time to see what I did, it’s huge,” Halep told WTA insider.
“I’m really proud that I was able to stay so long in the top 10. Unfortunately, the injury got me out. I can say that because I wasn’t able to play for three months so I didn’t have the chance to give my best to stay in the Top 10.
“But I’m not sad, I’m not upset, I’m not disappointed. I just take it as a new challenge.”
Next for the two-time grand slam champion is making her return to the tour in Montreal this week who is looking to win the tournament for a third time.
However the sixth seed admits that this week will be a new experience and will take her time to get back to her usual level, “I’m really happy to be here and I’m looking forward to my first match,” Halep said.
“It feels weird, it feels different, and it’s a new experience for me. It felt like I stayed away for two years honestly because to get the rhythm back of official practice sets with the players, it was really tough in the beginning. But I had a few days already and I’m getting better.
“But still, I’m far from my level. I don’t expect anything big at this tournament and in this period because it was the first time I stayed so long away with an injury and it was so difficult because I was so scared it would happen again.”
The Romanian will begin her campaign against either San Jose champion Danielle Collins or Jil Teichmann.
