New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Busy Halep remains committed to tournament
NEW HAVEN — While the Connecticut Open was running through its first day of main draw matches Sunday, the tournament’s marquee commitment was laboring through three sets of tennis in Ohio.
Simona Halep, the No. 1 player in the world, lost to Kiki Bertens in the Western & Southern Open final in Cincinnati. Halep, coming off a title in Montreal, lost 6-2, 7-6 (6), 6-2 in a 2-hour, 5-minute match.
Halep committed to the Connecticut Open last month as she aimed to play matches before the U.S. Open. She has played lots of tennis since and is seemingly on the top of her game — so does she still need to play in New Haven?
“I have Halep’s arrival information for [Monday], her hotel starting [Monday], her coach’s assurance over and over again, all week long, as recently as [Sunday] morning, that she’s coming,” Connecticut Open tournament director Anne Worcester said. “Darren Cahill is probably sick of me. … I have been told Halep is coming, win or lose.”
Cahill, Halep’s coach, notified Worcester of the commitment last month. It was Cahill who saw New Haven as an opportunity to prepare for New York. Cahill has continually said the plans will not change, no matter how many matches Halep played in Cincinnati.
“I think they’re glad that she doesn’t have to start until Tuesday night,” Worcester said.
Halep is scheduled to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. Monday and will have all day Tuesday to rest.
Bertens, No. 17 in the world, reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and in Montreal before winning in Cincinnati. Worcester had not been touching base with Berten’s camp, but she expects her to be in New Haven Monday.
GARCIA GAINING CONFIDENCE
Advancing to the quarterfinal-round in Montreal and the Round of 16 at Cincinnati, Caroline Garcia of France believes her game is rounding into form for the season’s stretch run.
“The first part of the season was not amazing, but the last few weeks I feel as though I’m heading in the right direction,” Garcia said. “I competed in some big tournaments earlier in the year and I was not happy with the results. Then I went back to practice. I tried some new things and learned a couple of things about myself. Montreal and Cincinnati gave me confidence, I feel better on the court physically and my game is better. If I keep patient it will continue to move in the right direction.”
Ranked fifth in the world, Garcia has five WTA titles and is 26-15 on the season heading into the first round of the Connecticut Open. The secondseeded Garcia received a first-round bye in the tournament.
Her father, Louis Paul, serves as her coach, a dynamic she now enjoys.
“I think when I was a teenager it was more difficult,” Garcia said. “A coach tells you the truth and you don’t always take it the right way, especially coming out of your dad’s mouth. It’s tough to accept and more painful. But being with my dad is a great experience. I know he is there for me and that he wants me to achieve my goals.”
GOERGES IN A GROOVE
Fifth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany was in top form in registering a 6-3, 6-1 opening round win over Dominika Cibulkova of Slovkia at the Stadium Court.
“It was a very solid match from my side,” said Goerges, ranked 10th in the world. “Every game was pretty tough though. She’s a good mover and reads the court very well. I played solid from the start until the end.”
Goerges reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, where she lost to Serena Williams.
She credits her coaches and trainers for helping her raise her game to a higher level.
“My team has shown me a different perspective, allowing me to see the positive things that can come out of a loss,” Goerges said. “They have helped me learn from a loss and take things out of a loss. They’ve given me a lot of positive feelings.”
FOR THE KIDS
It was Kids Day at the Connecticut Open on Sunday and there was no shortage of youngsters in New Haven.
More than 70 kids listened and learned from famed American tennis coach Nick Bollettieri at a special tennis clinic, conducted by Bollettieri and his IMG Academy staff.
With rackets in hand, each kid had numerous chances to serve, hit and volley under the watchful eye of Bollettieri and his staff. The always enthusiastic Bollettieri had several messages for the youngsters.
“Dream big and make your dreams come true,” he told the kids. “Learn from failure. It’s not how hard you fall, it’s how quickly you get back up.”
MAIN DRAW UPDATE
The third and final round of the Singles Qualifying Bracket took place Sunday with six winners advancing to the 32-player Main Singles Draw.
Olympic women’s tennis champion Monica Puig of Puerto Rico, Camila Giorgi of Italy, Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, Ana Bogdan of Romania, Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan and No. 1 qualifying seed Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus all won three matches over the weekend to earn berths.
Giorgi ousted Samantha Stosur of Australia, 7-5, 6-3 Sunday. However, Stosur joins the Main Draw as a Lucky Loser. Stosur will face Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus Monday on the Grandstand Court.