"She's looks happier on the court" says Martina Navratilova on Simona Halep
WTA
Simona Halep could be a strong outsider to contend for the 2022 Roland Garros title according to 18-time Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova.
Halep has had an up-and-down 2022 season so far, mixed with deep tournament runs and early eliminations. The Romanian player started the season well with a Melbourne Summer Set 1 victory in January and she also reached the Indian Wells semi-finals.
However, these achievements have been interrupted by inconsistent form at other competitions during the 2022 season. Halep was eliminated in the first round of the Qatar Open by Caroline Garcia and suffered a second-round defeat against Danielle Collins at the 2022 Italian Open.
Since March this year, Halep took the bold decision to start working with influential coach Patrick Mouratoglou to improve her game. The decision helped the Romanian to reach the Madrid Open quarter-finals in her first tournament with Mouratoglou before her elimination in Rome earlier this month.
However, despite some up-and-down showings in 2022, Navratilova believes that Halep has received a boost from her change in approach by hiring Mouratoglou. Ahead of the upcoming French Open, the former WTA great said she has seen a more confident Halep emerge in recent weeks.
"She looks happier on the court and is playing some good tennis. She’ll get a shot of confidence playing in Paris because she’s won it before, and clay is her best surface."
"With Mouratoglou coaching her, she’s getting some fresh looks and, a lot of times, players play better with a new coach because they want to show them what they can do. And they’re getting new information."
Halep has won two Grand Slams in her career, and she lifted the Roland Garros title in 2018 when she defeated Sloane Stephens in straight sets. She went on to win Wimbledon in the following season but has struggled since with multiple injuries sustained during the 2021 campaign.
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