Simona Halep’s Path to the Title at 2018 French Open
Simona Halep is a Romanian professional tennis player, the current #1 at the WTA ranking. She is the winner of 2018 Roland-Garros as well as 2017 WTA’s Fan Favorite Singles Player.
Career Beginnings
Simona Halep poster
Simona Halep was born on September 27, 1991, in Constanta, Romania. She started to play tennis at the age of 4, being inspired by her elder brother. Being 16 years old, she moved to Bucharest to develop her career.
Among Halep’s best results at the junior level are victories at 2008 Roland Garros Junior Championships and Trofeo Bonfiglio, the final at Notting Hill and semifinal at Australian Open Junior Championships.
Professional Career
Simona Halep poster
In 2011, Simona Halep reached final at Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem, semifinals at BCR Open Romania Ladies, Morocco Open, Brussels Open and quarterfinals at ASB Classic, Barcelona Open.
2013 was a breakthrough year for the Romanian tennis player. She won 6 WTA titles: Nurnberger Versicherungscup, Topshelf Open, Budapest Grand Prix, New Haven Open, Kremlin Cup and WTA Tournament of Champions. She reached semifinals at Internazionali BNL d’Italia. As a result, Halep became the only player of the year to win titles on clay, grass, hard and indoor courts. She received the award as the WTA’s Most Improved Player of the Year.
In 2014, Simona Halep won Qatar Open, her first Premier 5 title, as well as Bucharest Open. She reached finals at Mutua Madrid Open, WTA Finals and French Open, semifinals at BNP Paribas Open, quarterfinals at Australian Open, Wimbledon and Western & Southern Open.
In 2015, Halep was the winner of Shenzhen Open, Dubai Tennis Championships, Indian Wells Masters. She got to the finals at Rogers Cup, Western & Southern Open, semifinals at Miami Open, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Italian Open, US Open, quarterfinals at Australian Open, Aegon Classic and Guangzhou International.
In 2016, the athlete won Mutua Madrid Open, Bucharest Open, and Rogers Cup. She reached the semifinals at Apia International Sydney, Western & Southern Open, Wuhan Open and quarterfinals at BNP Paribas Open, Miami Open, Wimbledon, US Open.
2017 was one of the most successful years for Simona as she rose to the world #1 in the WTA rankings, being only the 7th player to do that without winning a Grand slam tourtnament. She defended her crown at Mutua Madrid Open and was a finalist of Italian Open, French Open, Cincinnati Masters and China Open. She also got to the semifinal at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and quarterfinal at Miami Open.
In 2018, Simona Halep won French Open, her first major title, as well as Shenzhen Open. She was at the finals at Australian Open and Italian Open, semifinals at Qatar Open and Indian Wells, quarterfinals at Stuttgart Open and Mutua Madrid Open.
