Halep gets third chance of the season to claim world No. 1 ranking
CINCINNATI: Simona Halep has her third chance of the season to claim the world No. 1 ranking after beating Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-1 to reach the Cincinnati Open final.
The second-ranked Romanian tries to become the 24th different woman atop the list by winning the final against Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza, who ousted top-ranked Czech defending champion Karo lina Pliskova 6-3, 6-2.
“If it’s going to happen, great, but if not I will have more opportunities. Hopefully I can do it. I have the desire,” Halep said. “I am so close. I really want that.”
Halep, who hasn’t dropped a set all week, has already lost twice this year playing for the top ranking, falling in the French Open final against Jelena Ostapenko and the Wimbledon quarterfinal against Johanna Konta, each time after taking the first set.
“Maybe tomorrow is my turn,” Halep said.
“I have to give my best and fight and if I win it’s going to be really special. It’s a great opportunity. But for sure it’s going to be a tough match against a Grand Slam champion.
“It’s a big challenge. It’s a big match.” Halep says while she is confident her rise to the top will come, she wants to win it for herself.
“I know if I keep this level, it’s going to come. If not tomorrow, maybe next week,” she said.
“I can keep hoping for that, but I don’t want to do that, actually. I want to win it ... it’s going to be more special and nicer for me.
“My first goal was a Grand Slam title, and it’s still the first goal. But now being very close, it’s maybe the most important thing in this period.”
Serena Williams had been number one before her pregnancy break earlier this year. Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Pliskova have held the spot since.
Halep never faced a break point and cruised in 54 minutes, saying “I played my best match on hardcourts so far”.
Sixth-ranked Spaniard Muguruza, seeking her fifth career title, is 2-1 against Halep with two hardcourt wins but lost their most recent meeting in 2015 on Stuttgart clay.
Pliskova, last year’s US Open runner-up, had won six matches in a row over Muguruza since losing their first meeting at the 2013 French Open.
“I lost to her so many times, I figured out something was going wrong,” Muguruza said.
“I worked hard on beating these kinds of opponents.”
Pliskova, who won twice on Friday after a rain postponement, was drained, saying, “I just wasn’t there today at all.” — AFP