Relaxed Halep hopes to ruin Serena’s party
LEO SCHLINK STEELED by a career-changing meltdown, Simona Halep is banking on Darren Cahill’s influence to deny Serena Williams grand slam history in the Wimbledon women’s final.
Halep was drifting in 2017 before sharing an awkward exchange with Cahill during the Miami Open.
Cahill temporarily cut Halep adrift after the incident before rejoining the Romanian’s camp, eventually guiding her to world No.1 and French Open glory.
Halep now stands between Williams and a record-equalling 24th major after the pair blasted through two heavily lopsided semi-finals.
Chasing an eighth Wimbledon crown, Williams holds a 9-1 record against Halep. But Halep is a changed player.
“Long time ago. I think after that moment in Miami with Darren, 2017, I started to change myself, to fight for every ball no matter the result and the score,” she said. “So I did that since then.” While Cahill is still occasionally courtside after standing down as the Romanian’s coach, Halep is now mentored by Daniel Dobre.
And after a cliffhanger Australian Open encounter with Williams in January, Halep is dreaming big.
“I’m desperate to win Wimbledon more than to stop her,” Halep said after her 6-1 6-3 victory against Elina Svitolina.
“I will focus on myself. I’m not thinking about her record. Of course, is huge. Her records are huge already.
“Yeah, is nothing about that. It’s just a tennis match, big challenge, a great match. So I will try just to give my best.
“I think it’s a great feeling to face Serena in a grand slam final. If you are able to win, makes it sweeter. If you lose, then you have to look forward for the next one.
“I’m in a good position, honestly. I have no pressure on myself, just positive one.
“I have expectations for myself that I can do a great job on court.”
Revealing her game had sharpened during playing mixed doubles with Andy Murray, American Williams said yesterday the weight of history was irrelevant.
“I actually didn’t think about it since because it’s really not about 24 or 23 or 25 (titles),” she said.
“It’s really just about going out there and giving my best effort no matter what. No matter what I do, I will always have a great career.
“Like, I just kind of let it go this morning. Yeah, I feel really calm about it. Now I’m in a different place. I really want to do it. I’m in a different place because I wasn’t really playing a month ago, like, at all. So it’s all kind of coming together.
“I’m happy to be back in this experience. I definitely wouldn’t have predicted it a month ago, but here I am. I’m playing for everyone that didn’t predict it a month ago.”
Williams, 37, last won a major at the 2017 Australian Open, before giving birth to daughter Olympia.