Pair’s top ambition
ALMOST two hours after she finally dismissed Angelique Kerber on Thursday in what became a classic Melbourne Park semi-final, the world’s top ranked player was asked the leading question.
What would it mean to become a big tournament champion?
“Bigger than No.1, honestly,” Simona Halep smiled.
“It’s also my dream, to win a slam. But, it’s always tough when you are close. I had this opportunity two times. The last one was very close.”
Which it was. Halep was toppled by Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko at last year’s French Open to go with a defeat, also in Paris, at her only other slam final, in 2014.
On the downside, that’s just two finals from 30 grand slams.
Her opponent tonight, Caroline Wozniacki, has fared little better, two finals losses from 42 attempts by the world No.2.
Which poses the question: How can two such players, and they can be formidable, sit atop the rankings without a grand slam win in sight?
Wozniacki, in particular, has topped the rankings for 67 weeks but long faced sneers that she was a pretender. Her 2011 Australian Open semifinal loss to Li Na, when she scorned a match point on serve, is an albatross even now.
“We’re seven years on and it’s still there,” when asked about that loss.
“I think you just learn all the time. I’ve had matches where I’ve been down match points and I’ve won them, and you learn something from that.
“You’ve been up match points, and lost it. At the end of the day, all we can do is take your moment, take your time, just go for it when you have the opportunity.”
Indeed, 10 days ago she was practically down and out against Croatia’s Jana Fett, 5-1 and match point, but aggressive resolve saw her through.