Key Takeaways:
- Simona Halep has prevailed twice at the National Bank Open; the most recent time was in 2018. The 30-year-old asserts that since then, she has radically transformed.
- The Romanian advanced to the competition’s semifinal on Friday after overcoming Coco Gauff of the United States 6-4, 7-6.
- Dabrowski and Olmos will compete against Australian Ellen Perez and American Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the semifinal.
Simona Halep has won the National Bank Open twice; her most recent victory came in 2018. The 30-year-old claims that she has completely changed since then.
After defeating Coco Gauff of the United States 6-4, 7-6 on Friday afternoon, the Romanian advanced to the competition’s semifinal. Since she last won what was then known as the Rogers Cup four years ago, Halep claimed she had changed both on and off the court.
Halep, who previously triumphed in the competition in 2016, added, “I’ve changed a lot, as a person, as well.” “As a player, I’m not sure precisely what I did, but I feel I made progress in many areas. Then the epidemic struck, and I believe that everyone had to struggle a little.
I’m a better person, though. I play the game better. As a result, this benefits me and gives me the motivation to work hard.
The tournament’s top six seeds were all ousted by the Round of 16, elevating seventh-seeded Jessica Pegula to the position of top WTA player. Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan was defeated by her 6-3, 6-3 in their quarterfinal round, and she will take on Halep on Saturday.
Also read: Northern NB struggles with pediatrician scarcity; services are suspended
Pegula asserted that just because she has the highest seed left in the competition does not guarantee that she will win her second career championship.
Pegula remarked, “I think anybody can succeed now. “Of course, I play Halep, a fantastic champion.
It’s wonderful to know I’m the highest seed, but I don’t think it signifies much at this time, so no, never easy.
Pegula and Halep have never faced off before. Halep glanced at a nearby television during her post-match press conference as Pegula and Putintseva battled for a match point.
“Facing a new opponent will be a big task, but it always is,” said Halep. But since it’s a semifinal, she’ll undoubtedly play solid tennis.
She is reliable. Already at the top is she.
Later, to reach the doubles semifinal, Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and her Mexican partner Giuliana Olmos upset Slovenia’s Andreja Klepac and Chile’s Alexa Guarachi 2-6, 6-2 (10).
In the semifinal, Dabrowski and Olmos will face Ellen Perez from Australia and Nicole Melichar-Martinez from the United States.
Gauff and Pegula then partnered up in their doubles quarterfinal, defeating American Desirae Krawczyk and Dutchwoman Demi Schuurs 6-3, 2-6 (10) to advance to the semifinals.
The American team will compete against American Madison Keys and Indian Sania Mirza, who won their quarterfinal doubles match on Friday by scores of 7-5 and 3-6 (10).
The only singles match at the National Bank Open on Friday featuring two seeds was the quarterfinal between Halep and Gauff. Halep is seeded 15th, whereas Gauff was the tournament’s 10th seed.
Halep has a perfect 4-0 record against Gauff in singles matches on the WTA Tour. She claimed that the 18-year-old American was becoming a more lethal foe.
“She is somewhat stronger. Today, she hit harder, and her serve was considerably stronger. Her backhand is consistently firm “Halep, who last faced Gauff earlier this season in Madrid, made this statement. “I think she’s come a long way since we last played,” I said.
Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, the 12th seed, was slated to play Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in the next quarterfinals, and Karolina Pliskova of the 14th seed, China’s Zheng Qinwen.
Source: CTV News
Get Canada and New Brunswick News’s top News, Market news, and other worldwide news only on New Brunswick Tribune.
