For Martina Navratilova, Simona Halep is currently the best player in the world. But Angelique Kerber also sees the former US Open champion (from 27 August) as a hot contender for the title.
Martina Navratilova is not a born master of hymns of praise. One could even get the impression that the 61-year-old, who is still on the double on the Senior Tour on the edge of the Grand Slams, prefers to strike the critical notes. For example, unlike her eternal rival of old, Chris Evert, who somehow appears a little gentler and more understanding to the pros in her analyses on the microphone.
Hardly a day goes by without Navratilova taking a stand via Twitter on any political decisions in her adopted country, the USA. A few years ago, only a manageable intermezzo with Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) ended after four months. A misunderstanding – so to speak.
I don’t care how: The opinion of Navratilova, 18-time Grand Slam winner (single) and esteemed TV commentator, has weight on the tour. That’s why Simona Halep can also imagine that the former world number one in her current column on the WTA page says about the Romanian: “It took a while for her to grow into this role. But Simona gives herself up and definitely plays like the number one.”
She almost seems to think Halep is shouting to the field of persecutors with newly won conviction: “I am up there – and you must try to get me out of there”. The decisive development step for the 26-year-old was winning her first Grand Slam title in Paris in June. “She no longer has to answer this one question:’When will you win a major tournament’,” Navratilova said of the new situation.
The industry leader from Constanta, who won last week in Montreal and will face Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) in the Cincinnati final on Sunday, will also be on the title bill at the US Open.
“I think Simona’s new self-confidence and attitude will make her more active in the rallies.” And that will help Halep to play “better than before on the hard courts at the Big Apple,” said Navratilova, adding: “She can still defend very well, but her more aggressive shots will pay off even better at the US Open than at the French Open.
Halep’s best performance so far in Flushing Meadows was three years ago, when she lost to surprise winner Flavia Pennetta from Italy in the semi-finals.
For Navratilova, however, Angelique Kerber is also one of the hottest title contenders: “The fact that she was at the very top in Wimbledon had a big effect on her. Angelique has gained self-confidence and realized that at the end of the year she could be number one,” said Navratilova.
Knowing that Kerber proved that she is particularly fond of the fourth and final major of the year with her final win against Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) in New York in 2016. “Your game suits this tournament very well. She can play from the defensive, but Angie can also use her flat shots on these courts.”
Navratilova, who won her four US Open trophies between 1983 and 1987, has experienced for herself what a special event this event in Corona Park in the Queens district of New York is. In many ways.
It’s noisy because the planes land every minute at the nearby airport La Guardia, the spectators are more restless than at the other Grand Slams – and the distractions are bigger. Half of Hollywood arrives at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in the two weeks.
“You have to make friends with all these circumstances – and quickly. You just can’t waste too much energy on it, then it’s okay,” Navratilova stressed.