When Simona Halep began this year’s Wimbledon, the 2019 champion was asked how it felt not to be given the honour of opening the tournament, something she had been denied by the tournament’s cancellation in 2020 and by injury in 2021. Halep answered politely and then was told she would just have to win the tournament again. “Not that simple, but I’m going to work for that,” she said with a smile.
The Romanian had just survived a late, brave fightback from Amanda Anisimova to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the third time with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Halep led by a set and 5-1 but was buckling when Anisimova stormed back and had three points to level at 5-5. It was then that Halep had a quiet word with herself.
