Halep survives Madrid opener

Two-time champion Simona Halep survived a second-set surge by one of the season’s fastest-improving players, as she defeated homeland hope Sara Sorribes Tormo, 6-0, 7-5 in the Mutua Madrid Open first round.

Halep, seeking her 10th career clay-court title, saw a 5-1 second-set lead slip away as Sorribes Tormo fought back to 5-5, but she ultimately prevailed in the last two games to keep her hopes for a fifth trip to the Madrid final alive.

She definitely played much better in the second set and she was more aggressive,

Halep said, during her post-match press conference.

I lost a little bit of concentration at 5-1, and then I started to miss a little bit more. But even if I was a set and 5-1 up, I knew that she can come back. I expected a tough battle and it was.

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