LONDON – Simona Halep says her previous failures in grand slam
finals and a maiden success at Roland Garros last year helped drive
her win against Serena Williams at Wimbledon on Saturday.
In her fifth showpiece final, Halep demolished the 23-time major
winner Williams 6-2, 6-2 in 55 minutes on Centre Court but before
then came some hardships.
The 27-year-old Romanian lost two French Open finals in 2014 and 2017
before again being defeated in an epic battle with Caroline Wozniacki
at the 2018 Australian Open.
"The finals I lost in the past helped me for sure to be different
when I faced this moment (at Wimbledon)," said Halep.
"It's never easy to face a Grand Slam final. You can get intimidated
by the moment. You can get nervous, too nervous."
However, Halep would soon get her hands on a major when she finally
became a grand slam champion in Paris when she triumphed on the
French Open clay against Sloane Stephens.
It was a huge weight off Halep's shoulders, who was then ranked the
world number one, and even though she learned to relax more in big
career moments, the hunger for more grand slam glory remained.
"I was motivated after I won the first one in French Open that there
is another chance for one more," said Halep.
"That's why I was able to win this tournament now in this moment.
Once you win one, you treat it a little bit easier."
As the hunger and belief in her own ability grew after winning a
championship in France, the pressure bestowed on Halep entering her
first Wimbledon final against seven-time champion Williams subsided.
"I have learned that it's a normal match, not thinking that much
about the trophy, just going there and try to be the best as you
can," Halep said.
Halep also had to believe she could conquer the grass, which she
admitted in previous rounds of the tournament, she was uncomfortable
with.
"Thinking that is a possibility to win on grass, it was tough to
believe because we don't even have a grass court in Romania," she
said.
"But I knew if we be patient and if we work hard, we get the feeling
of the grass court. I did it pretty well."
By winning her second grand slam at Wimbledon, Halep became the first
Romanian player to win the tournament.
The closest previous compatriot was Ilie Nastase, who lost the 1972
men's final to Stan Smith.
When asked what her win would mean to the country, Halep said:
"French Open is better known because another two players won it from
Romania. It's clay. We grow up on clay.
"But Wimbledon, I think it's very special for every country. Here the
tennis was born, it makes it more special."
Halep was understandably emotional on Wimbledon's hallowed turf after
what she described as the 'best match of my life.'
But one person she really wanted to win the Venus Rosewater Dish for
was her mother, whose lifelong ambition was to play in a Wimbledon
final, let alone win it.
"She was crying," said Halep when asked what her mother's reaction
was.
"I hugged her and I kissed her. I knew she's very emotional."
One piece of advice Halep is keen to listen to again is Roger
Federer's words of wisdom.
After beating Rafael Nadal to enter the men's final, his advice to
Halep was, "You have to have that winner mentality, that I belong
here, I've earned my way here."
Halep received those comments and said she will take them on board
for future reference in more grand slam finals.
"His words made me happy," said Halep. "Also I really believe that
there is a chance if I listen to him. Because if you listen to him,
you get the good things."