“The best match of this year” Simona Halep elated after her crushing win over Petra Martic to reach the semi-finals in Indian Wells 2022


“The best match of this year” Simona Halep elated after her crushing win over Petra Martic to reach the semi-finals in Indian Wells 2022

Simona Halep

World No. 26 and the 24th seed at the ongoing 2022 Indian Wells Open, Simona Halep puts out a one-sided show in the quarter-final clash against Petra Martic to reach the semi-finals of the tournament for the 4th time having been a champion at the event in 2015. Halep won the match 6-1, 6-1 in just 53 minutes to move into the last-4.

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Halep’s 14-point winning streak saw her race to 5-1 in the first set and she managed to break Martic in the next game to take the set and have one foot in the semis, showing her disciplined as the former World No. 1 converted all 5 of her breakpoints while defending all 3 breakpoints opportunities Petra had.

The second set was no different with Petra having just one game for her while Halep took the others to win her third straight-set match on the trot having won her second-round clash in 3-sets. Halep is now into her third semi-final of the season as she won the title in the Melbourne Summer Set 1 and had reached the last-4 in the Dubai Tennis Championships as well.

“I think probably [that was my] best match of this year. I felt super well. I felt confident. I’ve been aggressive. Everything I had to do I did, and it was pretty good. I stayed close to the baseline. Gives me confidence, gives me the boost that I still can play this level. It’s been a tough year, as you know. Now coming into this tournament and playing well means a lot. I will take all the positives and I will just build my confidence more and more,” said Halep after her win while addressing the press.

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“She’s playing the best tennis of her life” Simona Halep cautious of her semi-final clash

Simona Halep
Simona Halep

With Halep being the first semi-finalist, 4th seeded Iga Swiatek confirmed her place just a little while later as she dispatched Madison Keys in 56 minutes to set up the semis clash with Halep which will be the 4th meeting between the two French Open champions. While it was Halep’s hattrick of straight-set victory, Iga’s quarter-final win was her first victory of the week without dropping a set.

“Tough, tough match [against Swiatek next] because she’s playing the best tennis of her life. She’s in the best moment. I expect a really tough one. But I’m here in the semifinal, so I will take that. I will just try my best next one,” said Halep about her meeting with Iga as both players hunt for their second title of the season.

Also Read: Victoria Azarenka deletes her social media accounts after mid-match breakdown at the Indian Wells