Simona Halep wins an extremely tough battle against the 19-year-old and world no. 165 Caroline Dohelide. The American teenager had an emphatic start against the Romanian to win the opening set 6-1.

Simona had to use all her experience to get back, but Caroline was refusing to bow in the second set. Halep broke twice the teenager (4-2 and 5-3), but Dohelide managed to get back the break soon after on both occasions. Eventually, the world no.1 won the second set at the breaker.

Things were much more comfortable for Simona in the third set after she grabbed a decisive 3-0 lead. Finally, the Romanian won the contest 1-6 7-6 (3) 6-2.

  

 

 

She was playing very good tennis. HALEP

Soon after the match, Simona commented

“I’m really, really happy about this victory. It was tough down there, and much respect to her, because she’s playing really good tennis.

She’s playing really, really well, and I never played against her, so I didn’t know how the ball is coming.

It was pretty tough in the first set. I played too flat and too fast. So then I tried to miss less and make her move, to roll the ball better.

I was fighting to try to find the rhythm and to try to find the right game against her, which I did. This is the best thing that I will take from this match, not that much the victory. The thing that I found what I have to play, and I came back was more important.”

Next vs. Wang

Simona will face Qiang Wang in the third round. They have never played each other so far.

STORMING BACK

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