French Open: Chris Evert raves about Simona Halep: “The Heart of a Lioness

Simona Halep fulfilled a childhood dream by winning her first Grand Slam title – and the world of tennis was at the feet of the energetic Romanian after this special coup.

Simona Halep had already taken her most beautiful trophy firmly into her heart, she lovingly pressed the winner’s trophy of the French Open to herself. But it wasn’t enough, it wasn’t the picture that was going out into the world that day. And so Sloane Stephens, the beaten finalist, of all people, shouted from the background: “Lift him up. Show it right.”

And that’s what Halep did: She lifted the trophy, the highest price in Paris, over her head, beamed at the fans and photographers in a relaxed manner. It was now visible to everyone: finally here stood Grand Slam winner Halep, a number 1 in the world with suddenly changed authority and legitimacy. “Since I started playing tennis, I’ve waited for this moment,” Halep said after the 3:6, 6:4, 6:1 win, “and I always wished it would happen in Paris.”

Perhaps also because this setting fits her perfectly, the tireless, never really despairing fighter. To a player, who rises in the exhausting slide exercises, in the long struggle for small and smallest advantages in the duel between woman and woman. “The victory here is so fitting,” said Chris Evert (USA), the seven-time Paris winner and current TV analyst, “Simona has the heart of a lioness. And a passion for her sport like no other.”

The 26-year-old even overcame a traumatic start to the final, a 3-6, 2-0 deficit against Stephens, thus refining the first big coup of her eventful career. “If it’s true that the tough wins are the best wins,” said Halep’s coach Darren Cahill, “then it was just such a victory.

A week ago, when Germany’s tennis icon Steffi Graf was in Paris for a short visit, she had also talked about Halep. Halep more than deserved to win a Grand Slam title, “after all she has achieved and experienced. Graf addressed the uncertainties, doubts, fears and nerve problems of the highly gifted, who had repeatedly opposed the storming of one of the tennis thrones.

The energetic Romanian had been in Grand Slam finals three times and had lost three. Last year’s Paris final, against Jelena Ostapenko, could hardly be surpassed in bitterness by Halep, who collapsed completely after a 6-2 and 3-0 lead. “A world collapsed for me,” Halep recalled, “and yet I picked myself up again and kept trying.”

She had to prove that she has great taker qualities even on the last few meters to make the big dream come true. Halep was in a deep mess, threatening bankruptcy against Stephens when she suddenly found inner freedom and playful looseness. “I thought the game was over. Now you can play without any problems,” says Halep, “and then things went wonderfully well.

She won twelve of the next fifteen games – and Stephens, previously the absolute authority on Red Square, only three. “If I begrudge any, it’ll be her, Simona. It’s been a hard road for her,” said the American, who experienced a fabulous triumph at the US Open last September.

Halep was already in junior times a promise for a great tennis future, she also won the young talent competition in Roland Garros in 2008. For years she has been a determining factor in women’s tennis, repeatedly taking first place in the world rankings.

But she could never confirm her outstanding position on Grand Slam terrain, nor at the Australian Open in January another attempt failed haleps to fame at a major tournament. In the course of the tournament she fought back a total of five match points in various games and presented herself as a fierce fighter in her parade role.

Only to lose to Caroline Wozniacki in the final 7:9 in the third, decisive set. Wozniacki finished, it was also her first Grand Slam victory. And Halep stood there empty-handed again, the tears she she shed were tears of disappointment.

Halep was known for her oversized, dangerous ambition for many years. He often led to destructive impulsiveness on the court, often they were seen in fierce self-talk when things did not go as desired. Coach Cahill even retired from Halep in March 2017 because she was undisciplined in Miami and had completely abandoned the match plan they had worked out together.

An open debate followed, Halep praised improvement, Cahill came back on board – and so the scene of an intimate embrace of the successful duo was seen in Paris. “That I worked hard on my mentality, my psyche, was the key to this victory,” Halep said.

Now there is a big celebration at home in Romania, also with manager Virginia Ruzici, who won the last major title from the Balkans 40 years ago, also in Paris. “I’m not even thinking about the next tournaments,” says Halep, “now I’m on vacation.”