This tournament is special for me: Halep

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This tournament is special for me: Halep
Simona Halep, Garbin Muguruza,Carla Suarez Navarro, Petra Kvitova give pose with red rose after the round table conference at Cuba bar in Jumairah Creek Hotel on 14th Feb 2016.

Dubai - That was in 2010 -- much before the pint-sized baseliner began taking giant strides in the game.

By Rituraj Borkakoty

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Published: Sun 14 Feb 2016, 4:58 PM

Last updated: Sun 14 Feb 2016, 7:15 PM

 Simona Halep was once described by a revered American columnist as a 'scrappy player from Romania, short but with potent ground strokes, and a scrambler's talent'.
That was in 2010 -- much before the pint-sized baseliner began taking giant strides in the game.
It's quite incredible to see what the feisty Romanian can do to her seemingly more powerful rivals when she has the racquet in hand.
The willingness to run all day long and that amazing ability to hit a winner from a defensive position have caught many a top gun by surprise.
Her variations were instrumental in her rise to the ?upper echelons of the women's game.
By her high standards though, the world number three didn't have a great year in 2015 with her best Grand Slam display coming in the US Open where she reached the semis.
The 2014 French Open runner-up then perished in the first round of the Australian Open last month, raising questions over her form and a nose problem.
Now back in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships as the defending champion, Halep is hoping the great memories of her win last year will inspire her to rediscover her mojo.
"I am happy to be back here. This tournament is special for me because I have won it last year, and I am happy that I came back as I can play and I can practice. That is the most important thing for me, and that is I can play here," the 24-year-old player told us during a pre-tournament chat.
"The feeling is great because you have great memories and I had great atmosphere last year, great fans and great matches and everything went the right way. That was the best feeling I had last year. It means a lot to be back here.
"Of course, it is going to be tough to defend the title and I am not really thinking about that. I just want to play my best to try to come back as much as I can and to be healthy and to do my best. This is all I want."
The Romanian had decided to have the surgery after the Australian Open and even pulled out of Dubai and Doha events only to change her mind later.
"I have delayed the surgery as I feel okay now. I did some treatment at home and I don't have any infection any more. So it is better to play now because I feel good especially after Fed Cup. I had some good matches there. And maybe this year I will do it but I am not sure when."
The organizers of the Dubai event have given her a first round bye, but she does face the prospect of playing 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic in the second round.
"Yes, yes I have seen who is going to be my second round opponent. My coach told me that it can be either Ana (Ivanovic) or (Daria) Gavrilova.
"It is going to be tough, but you know I am here to play my best. I don't mind if I play against a strong player as I need matches and I need to face strong players. I am ready to go."
Halep's goal for 2016 is quite simple. She wants to take it one match at a time.
"Now I am trying to be again at 100 per cent, to be able to play my best tennis and then we will see what it will be for the rest of the year. But for now, let us take it one match at a time," said Halep.
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com


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