Simona Halep in the first round of Wimbledon 2018
Simona Halep in the first round of Wimbledon 2018 | Jimmie48 Tennis Photography

Wimbledon 2018 | ‘Tired’ Halep exits in first week, as nine of Top 10 seeds fail to make fourth round

By Ros Satar, at Wimbledon

  • Hsieh Su-Wei def. Simona Halep [1] 3-6 6-4 7-5
  • Admits to being physically and mentally tired after first six months of the year.
WIMBLEDON, UK – World No. 1 Simona Halep was the latest high-ranking seed to exit the tournament early, losing to Hsieh Su-Wei in the third round.

 

[table “ADWIM” not found /]

 

Hsieh Su-Wei def. Simona Halep [1] 3-6 6-4 7-5

World No. 1 and last year’s quarter-finalist Simona Halep admitted that the first half of the year had taken its toll on her, as she became the ninth of the top 10 seeds to crash out of Wimbledon.

In a nervy opening set the pair traded breaks for five straight games before halep became the first to hold, finishing off the set with another break of serve. Things looked to be a little more settled in the second set, but it was Hsieh Su-Wei to strike first before the first changeover, with a break. Although Halep pegged her back, Hsieh broke once more and confidently served the set out to love.

Once more they traded a series of breaks with Halep initially taking the lead, having built up a 5-2 lead. However. The fatigue started to kick in as Hsieh broke the first time Halep was serving for match. Halep responded with bringing up a match point on Hsieh’s serve, but she saved it, and broke Halep once more as she tried to book her place in the round of 16 for a second time.

Embed from Getty Images

This time the advantage was with Hsieh, who saved two break points before converting on her first match point. Halep admitted that the last six months had taken its toll on her energy levels.

She said: “I just believe that I was not very positive on court. The match was very unprofessional for me. But I am too tired. I was too tired. I have pain everywhere. I will not find the excuses about this match, she deserved to win, but still I’m sad about myself today. I had a great year. Six months have been great.

“I gave everything I had on the game side. I was fighting till the end for every ball. I just was too negative to myself, talking too much. I think because I was tired, because I’m tired, I couldn’t stay focused for every ball.

“I was leading the match, I was up, and I couldn’t finish it. I’m not hard. I’m just realistic and honest with myself. I accept that.”

Embed from Getty Images

Halep, who reached the semi-finals in 2014 and lost in the quarter-finals to Johanna Konta last year admitted that grass is a surface where she feels she cannot play her best tennis. However, in these past six months she reached the final of the Australian Open, won her maiden Grand Slam in Paris and now she needs to take a break before preparing for the US hard court series.

She said: “I had Grand Slam and I had tough matches during Paris. I am tired also mentally. But I think I played well these six months. I played final in Melbourne. Even if it’s long time ago, like five months ago, still all the pressure, all the tension is in my body.

“I just take it like I was tired, I had some pain everywhere in my body. I’m not blaming that I couldn’t focus because I won a Grand Slam. It’s the most important thing that happened in my career. I take it positive. But this was my power for this tournament, so now I’m done.”

Play at Wimbledon continues with all fourth-round matches being played on Monday.

 

[table “ADPDAll” not found /]