Grand Slam pressure no longer an issue for resurgent Halep

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  • On her way up: Simona Halep is pleased with how her game is shaping up.

    New world No3 Simona Halep suffered disappointment in her maiden Grand Slam final against Maria Sharapova but the Romanian says she has walked away with plenty of confidence from her French Open experience.

    Halep made the final without dropping a set and stretched Sharapova to over three hours before surrendering to the Russian.

    Asked about the positives she can take from her tight defeat, Halep said: “That I can play at a very high level. I can play the finals without big emotions. I had an incredible two weeks here.

    “I saw that I can play well at a Grand Slam, because before I had pressure. Before the tournament in Grand Slams I could not play my best tennis. But here I did and I’m really proud of this.”

    Halep admitted she needs to work on her forehand to create more chances for herself but was generally happy with her game, which depends more on her brain than on her power.

    Ex-Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who was also a runner-up at the French Open in the year 2000, says she hopes to see more players adopt Halep’s style and says the Romanian is a welcome addition to the WTA’s elite.

    “Simona Halep, her improvement has been amazing. I like the way she plays. I think she has a lot of talent. She moves well and I like her,” the Spanish legend told Sport360°.

    “I think having variety in your game is very important and I’d like to see more players do that.”

    Sharapova also lauded the 22-year-old’s rapid rise, saying: “You saw the level and the quality of tennis that she’s able to produce throughout this tournament and this whole year. She certainly deserved to be at this stage."

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