No 1 ranking spurring Simona’s slam dreams
SINGAPORE — Simona Halep is still searching for her first Grand Slam title but the Romanian said the consolation of ending the year as world No 1 will help motivate her for another run at a major next season.
The 26-year-old fell to a crushing defeat to Jelena Ostapenko in the French Open final in June, her second championship loss at Roland Garros, but a win over the Latvian in Beijing this month took her to the top of the rankings.
“Well, I can say that it’s a great feeling that I can finish the year with the top ranking,” Halep said at the WTA Finals in Singapore on Sunday.
“Of course, the best moment was on court when I won against Ostapenko in Beijing. But also it’s more special to finish the year at the top because I think it’s more difficult to do that.”
Halep, who failed to make it out of the round-robin phase in the Singapore tournament won by Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday, said she was relaxed now but expected the burden of the ranking to rise when the new season opens in January.
“Well, now I don’t feel any pressure because the season is finished, but I can imagine that it’s going to be a little bit more difficult,” she said.
“I have to work harder to stay there, but in my mind now is to just enjoy the moment and we will see.
“I touched everything I wanted about my dream in this way because I have many others. I just want to stay relaxed, enjoy tennis more and to give my best every time I go on court.
“I think that is everything I can ask from myself.”
Halep enjoyed a frustrating campaign in terms of tournament wins, claiming just one title (Madrid Open), but she was keen to stress that it was another season in which she was able to learn more about herself while working to improve her game.
“I had many ups and downs this season but I was consistent, in my opinion,” she said.
“It was a tough one. Of course every week I went back on court, working. Even when I lost in the first round at the US Open, I went back on court and I tried to improve in my game, which I think I was able to do.
“I’m really pleased that I was able to stay consistent, which is the best thing, I think, for a player. And also that I have been able to maintain my fitness.
“I have no problems now, no injuries. So I’m just con- centrating on starting next year better.”
Meanwhile, what started out as Wozniacki’s cruise to the biggest win of her career turned into a desperate struggle before the Dane finally subdued Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the title showdown at an enthralled Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The 27-year-old former world No 1 entered the contest having lost to the ageless Williams seven times in as many matches, but the resilient Wozniacki served and retrieved brilliantly to emerge with a deserved victory after 88 minutes.
Wozniacki was flawless for an hour as she raced to a set and 5-0 lead, but Williams is renowned for an insatiable desire to win and the 37-yearold American reeled off four wins in a row before her increasingly anxious opponent finally closed out the match.
“I felt like it was a little bit of an uphill battle, to be honest ... Venus never quits,” said Wozniacki.
“I knew she was stepping it up, she had nothing to lose at that point, and she really went for it. Shots were going in for her.
“I just had to keep reminding myself that I was still up and I’m the one who was leading and that I’m the one who could close it out.”
Wozniacki’s triumph was her second of the season in eight finals after she successfully defended her Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo last month.
The Dane will rise three places to world No 3 in this week’s rankings.