Halep upbeat after ‘best season’ despite injury and heading for break
Simona Halep is disappointed that a back injury forced her out of the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore but the world No 1 will reflect on 2018 as her best year after claiming a first grand slam title.
The Romanian lost her third straight major final when she fell to Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open in January but the battling base-liner made it fourth time lucky at the French Open in June and will also end the season at the top of the rankings.
“Yes, the best one,” Halep said in Singapore when asked yesterday to sum up her year.
“Winning a grand slam and finishing No 1, I think it’s the most that I could ask for. I had also tough moments, because in Melbourne it was really tough to go over and to come back stronger.
“Also, I’m proud that I could come back stronger and I could make a better result. So I think definitely, actually, is the best year of my career.”
Halep plans to take a break to help heal the herniated disc that ended her season early and conceded she would not pick up a racket again until at least December.
“They said that I need a break, around three, four weeks. And with the treatment, physiotherapy, and also exercises, medical exercises, I should be okay,” Halep, 27, added.
“Actually is nothing sure, but what is sure is that I don’t need surgery. So that is a big positive. I will take care of it. I have enough time. If mentally I will be okay and rested, I think it’s going to be better.
“Well, the pain is not that bad when I don’t play. So I have some moments when I get blocked still, but it’s not that bad as I’m playing tennis.”
Halep also believes that world No 2 Wozniacki is well placed to defend her WTA Finals title, adding the conditions are tailor-made for the Dane to succeed. “Well, it’s tough [to pick a winner], because every match is like a final in this tournament,” Halep said.
“I can say I see some players that have a bigger chance, actually Wozniacki because she won last year and I think the court suits her.
“Petra [Kvitova] has a big chance. [Naomi] Osaka has a big chance. I think everybody has a big chance. You never know. Also the emotions will play a big thing. We will see.”