Halep Enters A New League - IW interview

[Si Si Simona]

NEWS 2014
Indian Wells, U.S.A.
by Erwin Ong | 05.03.2014

Romania’s Simona Halep has arrived.

The 22 year old entered the Top 10 in the WTA Rankings after a run into the quarterfinals of the 2014 Australian Open, and she reflected on this achievement at the WTA All-Access Hour on Wednesday ahead of the 2014 BNP Paribas Open.

“It’s amazing to be Top 10 and it’s amazing to see that I can play at this level.”

“After [Melbourne] I thought I could be at the highest level in tennis. Now I am really happy that I can play in the Top 10. I think it’s the most important for a player. It’s not easy. I want to remain there [for a while] - not just one day or one week.”

Halep, the Indian Wells sixth seed, appreciates her arrival into this elite group in women’s tennis; only two other Romanians – Irina Spirlea and Virginia Ruzici – had ever broken through. “You don’t work just [for work’s sake],” said Halep, happy that her ranking now reflects the inspired tennis she has played dating back to the clay courts of Rome last year.

Free of a hampering back injury, Halep returned to a “more aggressive” style in that event, upsetting two seeded players and two former Grand Slam champions before falling to Serena Williams in the semifinals.

She gained momentum over the year, and by season’s end collected titles in Sofia, Moscow, New Haven, Budapest, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and Nurnberg. “I like all the surfaces,” said Halep, “I am the most comfortable on clay but all surfaces are good for me.” So far in 2014, Halep has already won one title, beating Angelique Kerber in straight sets to hoist her seventh title, in Doha.

Halep plays the BNP Paribas Open after bowing out in her opening round in Dubai with a tear in her Achilles tendon. “My injury is fine now. I don’t feel pain because I had treatment. I protect it now with tape.” Halep remains cautious but has come to the California desert prepared to take on the draw. “I’ve worked hard this week for four days. I am prepared for the next match.”

Halep also seems prepared to take on the new responsibilities of her higher ranking, acknowledging the inevitable increase in press conferences and other obligations common in the lives of top players.

“I’m excited to be here for the first time,” said Halep, smiling, before the media roundtable began. “It’s a new [way] of my life now and I have to enjoy it. I have to do [these press conferences], so it’s okay.”

Halep, who counts Justine Henin and Roger Federer as her tennis idols, has also adapted to her winning ways; more success on the tour means that she goes deeper into draws, staying around at a tournament for longer stretches.

“The rhythm is different. Before I could play just a few matches and I had to change locations. Now I play longer and I am enjoying it. I am happier now.”

And these deeper runs require a smarter look at her playing schedule. “You have to pay attention to each tournament and be fresh every time. I like to have weeks off because it’s better for my body. I don’t recover very fast. I will work with my coach to [create] a good schedule.”

And now with her name in proverbial lights, Halep has also becomes a target for her fellow competitors. “I feel it on court. I feel like they are fighting more now.”

Halep recently signed on Wim Fissette, the former coach of Kim Clijsters and Sabine Lisicki, to help with her game. “We work well together. It’s our fourth week together so now I have had more time to practice with him.”

What’s next for the newly minted Top 10 player? “My goal is to play in the semifinals in one Grand Slam. Rankings are not so important for me. I just want to stay longer in tournaments.

“I just want to play my game every time. Maybe try to be more aggressive and to improve my serve. I need the serve more now [than before].”

This week, Halep sits in the bottom half of the 2014 BNP Paribas Open draw with second seed Agniezska Radwanska, Halep could face 26th seed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in the third round and either Sara Errani or Canadian phenom Eugenie Bouchard in the Round of 16. Halep also shares the same quarter of the draw as 2012 champion Victoria Azarenka.

“I love the place and the tournament. I like that we can have cars here. I like to drive,” said Halep. “I get the bigger car. It’s good,” she laughed. And people are very nice to me now [that they recognize my name].”

link: http://www.bnpparibasopen.com/News/Tennis/2014/Tournament/WTA-Wednesday-Halep-Feature.aspx

 

[Si Si Simona]

RE: HALEP ENTERS A NEW LEAGUE

Simo, you must improve your English.
You can do that after winning your first grand slam. You will need French there

 

[Rose]

She's in the Top 10 and you want her to improve her English! Maybe you should let her off the hook :grin:

 

[Si Si Simona]

She's in the Top 10 and you want her to improve her English! Maybe you should let her off the hook :grin:

She is very intelligent in Romanian but when she speaks English its not the same. It effects her image
Not in my eyes of course, but in the eyes of the neutrals.

 

[Rose]

She's in the Top 10 and you want her to improve her English! Maybe you should let her off the hook :grin:

She is very intelligent in Romanian but when she speaks English its not the same. It effects her image
Not in my eyes of course, but in the eyes of the neutrals.

I don't think so at all! People know that English is not her own language. And in fact I think people credit players who even try to speak in English knowing that isn't their own language. And good luck to Simona later today

 

[Si Si Simona]

She's in the Top 10 and you want her to improve her English! Maybe you should let her off the hook :grin:

She is very intelligent in Romanian but when she speaks English its not the same. It effects her image
Not in my eyes of course, but in the eyes of the neutrals.

I don't think so at all! People know that English is not her own language. And in fact I think people credit players who even try to speak in English knowing that isn't their own language. And good luck to Simona later today

Not today, tomorrow. focus focus.. she plays against a Genie from Canada if you don't know..

 

[Rose]

She's in the Top 10 and you want her to improve her English! Maybe you should let her off the hook :grin:

She is very intelligent in Romanian but when she speaks English its not the same. It effects her image
Not in my eyes of course, but in the eyes of the neutrals.

I don't think so at all! People know that English is not her own language. And in fact I think people credit players who even try to speak in English knowing that isn't their own language. And good luck to Simona later today

Not today, tomorrow. focus focus.. she plays against a Genie from Canada if you don't know..

Time zone different or maybe a different way of looking at time? They play on the 10th and where I live it is already the 10th so I said later today! And I know she and Genie play each other so I offered friendly good luck wishes to Simona I love matches like these because liking both players I can't really lose

 

[Si Si Simona]

She's in the Top 10 and you want her to improve her English! Maybe you should let her off the hook :grin:

She is very intelligent in Romanian but when she speaks English its not the same. It effects her image
Not in my eyes of course, but in the eyes of the neutrals.

I don't think so at all! People know that English is not her own language. And in fact I think people credit players who even try to speak in English knowing that isn't their own language. And good luck to Simona later today

Not today, tomorrow. focus focus.. she plays against a Genie from Canada if you don't know..

Time zone different or maybe a different way of looking at time? They play on the 10th and where I live it is already the 10th so I said later today! And I know she and Genie play each other so I offered friendly good luck wishes to Simona I love matches like these because liking both players I can't really lose

They play on 11th IW time, not on 10th or am I missing something here? :blush:
The other top half of the draw plays today, not the bottom half that has Genie and Simona.

 

[Rose]

I was just going by information on a scoring site which now appears to be wrong Maybe I just want the Match to hurry up and get here

 

[ozza]

Simo, you must improve your English.
You can do that after winning your first grand slam. You will need French there

Players always get better at English as they are required to get more interviews as the spotlight increases.

I remember Kvitova a few years ago. Her English is a lot better now.

Her English can't be terrible, terrible anyway. Wim Fissette communicates with her in English right? So she must at least be comfortable enough to have a coach speak to her in English.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Wim Fissette communicates with her in English right? So she must at least be comfortable enough to have a coach speak to her in English.

Simona speaks basic English but she understands very well what is said to her. I guess she does that by instinct
Who am I to criticize? I can also have issues with my English

 

[Rose]

I don't know anyone on the Tour men's or women's whose English didn't improve the longer they are on the Tour. Some of them speak English better than I do now and I'm from the US :cover