In 2017, Simona Halep is on the verge of becoming the 25th woman to hold the WTA No.1 ranking, and she will also be the first Romanian to achieve this milestone. After coming close to claiming the top spot on three occasions earlier in the season, the 26-year-old player accomplished a historic feat on Saturday. She avenged her previous loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the French Open by defeating her in the semifinals of the China Open. This victory guarantees that Halep will ascend to the No.1 position in both the WTA rankings and the Porsche Race to Singapore when Monday arrives.
Halep joined the WTA Insider Podcast after the win to discuss her bumpy road to No.1, which required humility, persistence, and a devoted team who never let Halep stop believing.
“It was the toughest year but also the best year,” Halep said on the WTA Insider Podcast. “At the beginning, it was very tough. I was injured and I didn’t believe I would even be in Singapore. So being there now and being No.1 today, it’s great. I can say that I forget everything [else]. I just enjoy the moment and take the very happy moments that had this year.”
WTA Insider: This was the fourth time you were playing a match for No.1. The last three times you couldn’t do it, it seemed a bit soul-crushing. Talk through the attitude you had to have to get through the last few months?
Halep: I still say the toughest moment on court was the French Open final. It was the first opportunity to be No.1 and to win the first Grand Slam. I was devastated after that match. Then I just kept working. I said it’s going to happen one day, I just have to get on court and work harder, which I did. Then I was in Wimbledon straight after. I was very close, two points from doing this. I lost it. In my opinion, I played great in the US season.
I just didn’t stop believing. Also, my team was great. The people around me, Darren always told me that if you keep working you can do it. So today I did it after so many tough moments. Also the match at the US Open against Sharapova I think helped me, to get stronger and to see better what I want to do with my career. I saw that I want to work hard and to believe that day that I will become No.1 in the world.
Halep: For sure I believed it. I don’t talk if I don’t believe; I prefer to shut up. So if I say something I really feel it.
So yeah, I told the boys that we have to keep working. I felt too many times that I’m there. So that’s why maybe I still had the power to go ahead and keep working. I had great people around me that told me every day that I can do it. So it’s really important. The team is important, and the family.
Halep: After the match, I talked to Darren and he told me my serve was s**t and that’s why I lost the match. So I said ok, if that’s the only one thing I can improve to beat her, then I work for it.
So now I can say it: I’ve been on court one hour every day hitting serves. Darren said stop it because you’re going to hurt yourself and I said I will not (laughs). I just wanted it a lot. I wanted it with everything. Also, I was motivated because everyone told me I will be there. So maybe that’s why I had the power to work.
Halep: I don’t want to say the name, but she knows who she is. It was my psychologist. Also, I worked at home with a Romanian man, which helped me after that period. I really want to thank them because they showed me what I need to improve and what I have to change to be better on court, which I did it and credit to them.
Halep: First place is the mental strength. The game I always had. I was there close many times, 2014 in Singapore. But the mental part I was not very close. This year for sure is the best way that I’ve been on court. The attitude now I’m happy about it. I’m not ashamed anymore.
“I could not control my nerves, I could not control myself. I was talking too bad to myself. I don’t deserve that because I’m working hard and I just have to appreciate myself more.”
Halep: Yeah, for sure. After Miami, after a few other matches in the past. Because I could not control my nerves, I could not control myself. I was talking too bad to myself. I don’t deserve that because I’m working hard and I just have to appreciate myself more.
WTA Insider: What does it mean to you to be the first Romanian WTA No.1?
Halep: Yeah, this is great. I know Virginia won a Grand Slam, but I’m the first one and the only one until now who is No.1 in the world. Ilie sent me a message that he was proud of me. So we both made history in Romania, which is great, and for sure for me, it means a lot.
WTA Insider: Do you have any sense of what the reaction is back home?
Halep: I don’t know. I don’t want to think, actually, because tomorrow I have another match which is going to be very difficult to play. But after tomorrow I will go home and for sure I will celebrate with everyone.
Halep: The biggest lesson I had in my career was the split with Darren after Miami. It was a shock for me. On that day I said well, I did something wrong and I have to accept it and to work to change something to bring him back to my team because he helped me a lot and he’s still helping me. That was the best lesson, not just for tennis but also in life.
“He is very happy. I’m his third No.1 player. He said he had the youngest No.1, the oldest No.1, and I said I’m ‘The middle No.1.'”
Halep: Of course. After the match, I called him after the shower actually because I needed to let everything go out, all the emotions.
He is very happy. I’m his third No.1 player but the only one girl. He said he had the youngest No.1 (Lleyton Hewitt), the oldest No.1 (Andre Agassi), and I said “The middle No.1.” He was very happy and he was with his family there and celebrating. I’m sad he’s not here but it’s ok. we’re going to celebrate in Singapore.
