Simona sets up semi-final clash with Svitolina

No.1 seed Simona Halep will play Elina Svitolina in the Qatar Total Open semi-finals after squeezing past Germany’s Julia Goerges in straight sets. Romanian Halep beat Goerges 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (8-6) while Ukrainian fourth seed Svitolina brushed aside Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova 6-4 6-2.

“I didn’t think about a third set,” said Halep after she trailed 3-5 in the second set. “I just wanted to fight till the end of the second set. So I didn’t give up, and I didn’t lose my confidence, even if I was set points down. I tried just to stay there, focused, to stay strong on my legs, because she’s hitting the ball really strong and it’s never easy to return. I’m really proud that I could stay strong mentally and also that I was fighting for every single shot.”

Simona trails Svitolina 1-4 in their head to head but is feeling confident this time after her most recent defeat in the 2018 Rome final.

“We played two finals in Rome, and I lost them,” she added. “I was very upset after those matches, because I gave up and I didn’t play my best tennis. Now I have the chance to change that. I have the chance to fight till the end and for every ball. Tomorrow I believe in my chance. I believe that I have a good level of tennis in this moment, and I have to believe that I can win. So I will go there tomorrow, and I will give everything.”

 

Photo credit: Jimmie48Photography