Great hope Halep - How far now?

How far will Simona Halep go at the 2014 USO?


  • Total voters
    93

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
Either one is fine with me. I guess it would be nice to see Venus do well.
I guess you are rooting for Venus!


venus-williams.jpg



:wink:
 

tacou

G.O.A.T.
She seems consistent enough to get to the QF and I think she will take out Maria. After that I cannot say
 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
Friday, on Grandstand (kind of disappointing that she can't play again on Ashe, but ...)

Not Before: 12:30pm
Women's Singles - Round 3

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO)
vs.
Simona Halep (ROU) [2]

I would have preferred a higher ranked opposition in preparation for the upcoming matches, but I'm sure Lucic will fight like hell. If Hales gets away quickly, so much the better then.
 
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Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
R3: Simona Halep's playing Lucic-Baroni, 32, today
Hot day again
Breaks her from start

Lucic is a heavy hitter, returns hard, and breaks Halep back
1-1
Halep loses a 0-40 break advantage, as a result of long, heavy shots from Lucic
2-1 Lucic, on serve

Halep establishes the "normal"
5-2 Halep
Great short slice serve in the deuce by Halep

Halep is playing someone hitting harder than she at times. Let's see.
but Lucic breaks Halep with some DTL shots
5-3 Halep, Lucic serving, wins at love
5-4 Halep, to serve again for the set

Great Halep running FH for 15-40, advancing, stepping into the ball
Lucic is playing on the baseline and dominates, Halep 1 meter behind

after 2 DF, Halep loses, struggles
5-5
Lucic plays a lot, successfully, behind Halep

6-5 Lucic, Halep serving
6-6 both have had set points

Lucic 4 games in a row:
6-5 Halep needs to get in TB
TB now, after great serving by Halep
2-2, both make errors

4-3 minibreak to Lucic
4-4 error by Lucic

Lucic wins with heavy returning, she steps in with her powerful body, and Halep doesn't;
high risk, but Lucic deserves this set
pretty mediocre set by Halep, letting the other to take the initiative, not slicing to slow down, no dropshots, no breaking the rhythm, no net, no variety

You give pace to a player like Lucic, instead of variety, you pay for it


Lucic serves for the match
5-2 in the 2nd; clear domination

British commentators: sensational performance of Lucic, after a break of 7 years from the tour, after beating Muguruza too.

Poor performance by Halep, in favorable circumstances, playing a qualifier (even though a very good one), when Errani beats Venus, when Kerber and Radwanska are out, and the path would have been easier for her (well, yes, she still had to beat Sharapova, and that has been a tall order for now).

Time to thank old Wim for his services, sorry. It's time to think about the long-term interest of Simona Halep first and foremost: growing her game in variety, to the level required to beat the big hitters.

I knew we would be getting here, because Kim's style of play (clearly what was proposed to her, based on her performance) is not the best for her, but Justine's. She's not a power player, but a shotmaker. She wants to last too -- can't play just long, wearing out exchanges.

I haven't seen strategic advances in her game this year, not more variety of shots, no real plan B.

Obviously, a great year, but could have been greater if from the beginning of the year a plan would have been in place to grow the variety of her grame. And I don't see that.
 
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bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
Lucic was a Wimbledon semifinalist way back in 1999, beating Seles 7-6, 7-6, and losing to Graf 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Crazy how she was gone for seven years and is now in the 4th round of a Slam
 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
Halep's father says she was too tired after Wimbledon to have great results at the USO. Same we hear from Bouchard, I guess. Seems natural to me.

He also mentioned Simona intends to continue with Fissette. Same question as wrt Bouchard: for how long?
 

tacou

G.O.A.T.
Good she should rest up her season has already been a smashing success, though a solid run at the year end finals would be great for her confidence going into next season
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
Halep's father says she was too tired after Wimbledon to have great results at the USO. Same we hear from Bouchard, I guess. Seems natural to me.

He also mentioned Simona intends to continue with Fissette. Same question as wrt Bouchard: for how long?

Why? Why are players always tired now? We can't expect top players to perform well in Slams that are 2 months apart? Seems ridiculous.
 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
Simona Halep comes back at Wuhan next week, being 2nd seeded.

The draw is out:
http://en.wuhanopen.org/index.php/index-pdf-p-1.html

The top half is heavier, with Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Eugenie Bouchard, Ana Ivanovici, and Caroline Wozniacki.

This makes it an easier draw for Simona Halep, until one looks closer and sees potentially Garbine Muguruza in her path, in Halep's first match back.

But I'd say it's the best draw Halep could hope for in the circumstances.
 
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cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Simona Halep comes back at Wuhan next week, being 2nd seeded.

The draw is out:
http://en.wuhanopen.org/index.php/index-pdf-p-1.html

The top half is heavier, with Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Eugenie Bouchard, Ana Ivanovici, and Caroline Wozniacki.

This makes it an easier draw for Simona Halep, until one looks closer and sees potentially Garbine Muguruza in her path, in Halep's first match back.

But I'd say it's the best draw Halep could hope in the circumstances.

Halep doesn't have a prayer of winning that tournament unless players like Williams and Sharapova tank early.
 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
Halep - Muguruza, tonight 11 pm EST

Bouchard - Barthel, tomorrow 6 am EST

both on center court, which is streamed

Let's see how Halep and Bouchard are performing after the break they had.
 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
Halep doesn't have a prayer of winning that tournament unless players like Williams and Sharapova tank early.

My immediate concern for her and everyone in the above would be the next round. Garcia and other players won't be taken for granted.
 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
0,,12781~13145948,00.gif


Halep Off To Confident Start in Beijing
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Beijing is Halep's last scheduled tournament before the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global and, judging by her lighting fast start against Zahlavova Strycova, she could be running back into form at just the right time.

Bounding around the court with the spring that has been lacking in recent months, Halep needed less than half an hour to take a one-sided opening set. While Zahlavova Strycova made a better fist of things in the second, there was to be no denying Halep. Serving at 5-4 down, the Czech was undone by a brilliant running passing shot before finally surrendering with a double fault a few moments later.
http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/4178563/title/halep-off-to-confident-start-in-beijing

The full match is here:
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova vs Simona Halep R1 Beijing 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ay7fIqxL8
in English
 
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Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
Halep will have emergency MRI on her hip tomorrow in Bucharest, with the results on Sunday. The WTA physios in Beijing did not expect a tear.

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The results have leaked out and it seems to be just a sprain, not a tear. She will restart her training next week.
 
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Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru

simona-halep_1262bdqtqvj541f1soytbuwk1t.jpg

Warming up in Singapore!

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Improving her attitude has been a key factor in Simona Halep's continued rise up the rankings this year.

Look between Simona Halep's ears, Tracy Austin said. It's there, according to Austin, that Halep's transformation began - and this is a transformation that will see the Romanian make her debut at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

Halep wouldn't have qualified for the season finale for the first time - and she was the third to earn her place, after Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova - if she hadn't changed her approach to her tennis. Negativity can destroy a tennis player from within; this year, Halep has been much more positive about her game, giving her clarity of thought during any tricky moments.

"So much of it is between the ears. First of all, her attitude on court is a lot more positive," Austin said of Halep, whose results this year have demonstrated that tennis is fundamentally a mental game. "She used to be too negative with herself, and that would feed into her game. You can't think clearly when you're being negative. So this year she's been able to stay a lot more calm on court, and a lot more positive."

In addition to reaching a first Grand Slam final at the French Open, where she played a fine match against Sharapova, she also won title in Doha and Bucharest, reached the final in Madrid, made the last eight at the Australian Open and played in the semifinals at Wimbledon. With the margins so small at the top of the game, Austin said having confidence in yourself can prove to be the difference between victory and defeat.

"With all the wins that Simona has had this season, she's developed great belief," said Austin, a former champion at the WTA Finals, who will be playing in the inaugural WTA Legends Event in Singapore.. "She now believes that she belongs at the top. When you're at the top of the game, the margins are so tiny, and she has all the attributes to be among the top players."

On any surface - hard, clay or grass - Halep can be, and has been, a m_e_n_a_c_e. At a time when tennis players seem to be getting taller and taller with every passing month, it's been fun to watch a player who stands at 5-foot-6 become such a force.

You don't have to wait for the official photograph of the elite eight grouped together to know that Halep will be the shortest player in Singapore. Four of the other seven singles players - Sharapova, Petra Kvitova, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki - are 6 foot or taller, while Williams is 5-foot-9 (and no one has ever accused her of lacking physical presence on a tennis court), Agnieszka Radwanska is 5-foot-8, and Eugenie Bouchard is 5-foot-10.

"Without a doubt, not being tall is a disadvantage," said Austin, who is herself an inch shorter than Halep. "But Simona is such a great athlete that she makes up for that lack of height with her speed, her competitiveness around the court, and her smart shot selection. She's a tremendous athlete, who can play tremendous defense. There are so many things that she does well that she's able to make up for that disadvantage."

Most significantly of all, Halep trusts in her talent.

Mark Hodgkinson is a tennis writer based in London. His new book, 'Game, Set and Match', will be published by Bloomsbury in 2015.
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Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
@Marius_Hancu

The Black Swan strikes twice!!! @Simona_Halep masterclass b. Serena 60 62 #tennis #wtafinals. Step in!


simona-halep-celeb-serena-williams-singapore_3219690.jpg


article.jpeg


 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
Interview in Romanian, in Bucharest, upon the return from Singapore:

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- I have only good words about Serena. She was very nice to me.

- I didn't speak with Sharapova. She doesn't speak too much with the other players. I talked to the others, just with Sharapova and Bouchard didn't have any conversation.

- After a vacation, I'll have a training camp in mountains, to train for the new season.

- I am not sure whether I'll continue with Wim Fissette. I'll take a decision after the vacation.

- on the podium, Serena told me she wants a picture with the next world #1, that is me.

- In the match with Ivanovic, I took the decision that I myself thought to be correct. I am glad I was able to play twice with Serena, even though I lost in the final.

http://www.ziare.com/simona-halep/s...rapova-si-colaborarea-cu-wim-fissette-1329794
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ALEXT

Semi-Pro
^^^

Read the article this morning too and I thought at your comments regarding changing the coach. Maybe she will, but the question is who might be the right coach for her to help improve her game.

#1? I don't think so as long as Serena and even Sharapova are around, but staying in top 5 or even 10 and winning some more tournaments and maybe a GS should be her goals for the next season.

Re: Speaking to the other girls.... one of the pictures from the tournament (the one when they are all in the waiting room) says it all.
 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
Read the article this morning too and I thought at your comments regarding changing the coach. Maybe she will, but the question is who might be the right coach for her to help improve her game.
Suggestions? Paul Annacone, Stefan Edberg (even part time would help tremendously; and he might become available), Carlos Rodriguez (I know he has that academy in China, and he left even Li Na in the lurch), even Justine Henin (if Mauresmo coaches, why not her?). Someone who would push her toward more variety, toward the net too.
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Suggestions? Paul Annacone, Stefan Edberg (even part time would help tremendously; and he might become available), Carlos Rodriguez (I know he has that academy in China, and he left even Li Na in the lurch), even Justine Henin (if Mauresmo coaches, why not her?). Someone who would push her toward more variety, toward the net too.

You better hope Paul Annacone stays away from her. He is an overrated coach IMO. LOL @ Edberg. You think he will leave Federer and coach a player like Halep do you? Edberg is not the type of past great that will coach many players. He is very successful in the investment world and has made a ton of money there with his own investment firm. He sure does not need the money and is not an attention-seeking type of guy. I think only a player the caliber of Federer could lure Edberg into coaching temporarily.

Rodriguez is not a bad choice nor is Henin.
 

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
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Mats Wilander tips Simona Halep to dominate WTA

by Reem Abulleil


Former world No1 Mats Wilander believes Simona Halep has a Novak Djokovic-like streak in her future as he tips the young Romanian to top the women’s game in the upcoming years.

Halep has had a remarkable 17 months - stretching back to May last year – where she has picked up eight titles, reached the French Open final, and peaked at No2 in the world.

The 23-year-old posted her first top-three win of her career against world No1 Serena Williams earlier this week and Wilander – a seven-time major champion – believes Halep will continue to build up confidence that can make her unstoppable in the near future.

“I think she has played some matches at a different level than the rest of the girls apart from maybe Serena because of the serve,” Wilander told Sport360° on the sidelines of the WTA Finals in Singapore.

“But from the baseline I think Halep can play at a different level from the rest of the girls because she moves so well and she’s so solid from both sides and I’m sure that her confidence is growing and growing.

“She literally is going to be like Novak Djokovic, she might be unbeatable one day.

“She plays the same. She is smart. And most probably playing at the top level more often, her mentality is going to get better and better, her body language is going to be positive all the time and once it is then I think players are going to be fearing her big time.

“I think she’s just going to get better and better for the next two, three years so yes I think she is a future No1.”

Wilander was also in awe of Williams’ most recent achievement – finishing the year as No1 on a fourth separate occasion, 12 years after she did it the first time. It is a span that is a record in women’s tennis.

“Her career longevity is actually the most impressive part about her career,” said Wilander.

“There was a time when we always said ‘she doesn’t play enough tennis and tennis is not the only thing on her mind… she should focus on the sport and do bla bla bla…’

“Turns out that we were all wrong and she’s right. So I think that’s probably the record that she should be the most proud over. Because everybody can win grand slams, but to hang in there and be the best player in the world 12 years later, that’s amazing.”

One of the topics heavily discussed this week in Singapore has been on-court coaching, with WTA founder and legend, Billie Jean King, urging the men’s tour to follow in the ladies’ footsteps by allowing the coaches to help their players during matches.

Wilander, who currently works for Eurosport as a commentator, says he vehemently disagrees with King’s suggestion.

“If they introduce in the men’s side I’m stopping covering tennis, seriously,” said the Swede.

“Because it’s not what tennis is. Tennis is an individual sport and that’s the difference. The difference is that we don’t have coaching on the court and the difference is that you have to do everything yourself and that’s part of the beauty of the sport I think.

“So no I think that’s first of all crazy and I think they would never allow it in the grand slams anyway. So I think the only bad thing about having coaches in the WTA is that they don’t allow it in the grand slams so then there’s such a major difference for the players. And I think we’ve seen that some players do better on the regular tour than they do in grand slams.

“But on the men’s side, no no no. If that happens, I stop. That would be the worst thing they could possibly do for men’s tennis.”

http://sport360.com/article/international/27966/mats-wilander-tips-simona-halep-dominate-wta
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