Romanian tennis lovers should thank the organizers of the Miami Open twice. First, for the wild card granted to Simona, as an emergency. And then because they scheduled the return match of the Romanian, after a year and a half, at an excellent time for us: 10 p.m. And Halep – Badosa turned out to be a tasty show.
Simona Halep, at Miami Open 2024. PHOTO: Profimedia
A duel between two returning players, admittedly for different reasons and after incomparable absences, the match started, however, with Simona dominated by emotions. Constănțanca started the meeting, smiling broadly at the Romanians in the stands, but she needed a few minutes to mentally readjust to the tennis of an official match. Incidentally, Halep lost the first game to zero and when she went on serve, she started with a double fault.
Fortunately, from here on, Simona's game kept improving as the minutes passed. With the clarification that the mistakes were quite a lot, but much less than Badosa's. The 26-year-old Iberian was simply catastrophic from this point of view! And the statistic at the end of the first set, with 24 unforced errors against Paula, speaks for itself.
After serving for 1-0, Badosa (80 WTA) broke. She hung on desperately in the 6th game at 4-1 for Halep, but here too she made a lot of errors. Simona saved five break points and, at the end of an incredibly long range, distanced herself to 5-1.
This game, with repeated wasted chances to get closer to 4-2, completely destroyed the former world number 2. Incidentally, in the next game, Paula lost on her own serve at 15. Upon her return to the court after a year and a half, Halep decisively won the first set after 38 minutes: 6-1!
“Simo”, right shoulder problems at the end of the second set
The second act began identically to the first. With each player serving: 1-1. But then, unlike the first set, Badosa went 2-1, succeeding the break. Encouraged by this first positive moment, with two games won in a row, Paula immediately consolidated this break: 3-1. Simona's reply? An excellent one. The Romanian raced to 40-0 and served without emotion at 15, winning the deciding point with an ace. 6-1, 2-3 after exactly one hour of play.
Three games followed in which she went on serve, and at 5-3 for Badosa, Halep served to stay in the set. With a poor service range, Simona gave her opponent the first set point with a double fault. Fortunately, he managed to save her. Four 5-4 balls followed for Halep, the last one being capitalized by the former world number 1.
At this score, the woman from Constanta requested the intervention of the physiotherapist, having problems with her right shoulder. After a massage session right on the side of the court, “Simo” returned to the match, being on the receiving end to stay in the set. But Paula made a solid serve and quickly went to 40-0, having three more set points. He wasted the first two. He capitalized on the last one with a perfect serve: 6-4 for Badosa after a second set of 50 minutes.
Halep, outclassed in the decider
Fortunately for Halep, the shoulder problems disappeared in the opening set of the decider. And Simona made her serve to zero to take the lead: 1-0. Paula's reply was almost on point: she won the game on her own serve at 15, with an ace. Unfortunately, immediately, “Simo”, debauched, gave up his service to zero!
Riding high, Badosa started the next game with an ace, her 5th of the match. But in vain! Her momentum was immediately cut off by Simona, who “FIX” what he had ruined in the previous game, with some fabulous returns: 2-2. And the Romanians in the stands, delighted, began to chant energetically: “SI-MO-NA“, “SI-MO-NA“, “SI-MO-NA“.
Somewhat surprisingly, Badosa, with an improved game from the first set, managed to keep her emotional balance. And he made a new break, taking the lead once more: 3-2. Immediately, the Iberian broke away, making his service to zero: 4-2 Badosa. To this white game, “Simo” responded with an identical one, keeping the pressure on her opponent: 4-3 Badosa.
But Paula continued to keep her cool. She proves to have served for 5-3, forcing Simona to serve to stay in the match. Unfortunately, Halep gave her opponent three match points, and she capitalized on the first one. After one hour and 58 minutes, Badosa achieved her first victory over Halep after three games: 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
What do we have left after Simona's first match after a year and a half
*Clearly, there is more work to do! The period of absence, a long one, left its mark on Halep's game. With big problems at work, especially. And unforced errors abound.
*Physically, Halep will be up for a challenge. He has already complained of some problems with his right shoulder. In the next period, she will also need some luck so that she is spared from serious medical problems.
*All in all, we have to be patient with Halep in the coming months. It takes a sporting miracle for her to be able to return to her previous form in a very short period of time. Rather, the following tournaments will be re-accommodation for the former world No. 1.
