Simona Halep is return to the top 10 is marked by an impressive feat after she claimed the Canadian Open (Rogers Cup) for the third time in Toronto in 2022.
The 2016 and 2018 Canadian Open champion ended the dream of Brazilian tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia by winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 after a fierce battle for 2 hours 16 minutes. This season’s Canadian Open title is the 24th title in the career of the Romanian national tennis player. With the win, he took their head to head lead by 3-1.
“It’s never easy to play Haddad Maia,” admitted Simona Halep. “He beat me a few weeks ago. I know it will be a challenge and a fierce battle. So this time I fought hard and I feel really happy that I was able to come out stronger in the crucial moments.”
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With the latest win in Toronto, the player who has won two Grand Slam titles has won one tournament on three occasions for the first time in his career. But this time it was the Romanian’s first win in Toronto. The other two Canadian Open titles he has won came when the tournament was held in Montreal.
In addition, the victory in the final of the tournament was the Romanian’s first win in a WTA level 1000 tournament since he won the title in Rome in 2020. However, he proved that his experience cannot be underestimated.
“This makes things even more special, because I really wanted to win in Toronto too. There are many Romanian nationals here and they always come to support me. So, I feel really happy that I can also win here.”
After just one season of dropping out of the top 10, the former world number 1 is predicted to rise from world number 15 to world number 6 thanks to a win in Toronto.
“I feel like returning to the top 10 in the world is a big thing. When I started the season I didn’t feel very confident and I set my target, at the end of the season, to be in the top 10. And here I am. So, this is a very special moment. I will enjoy it. I will dream more,” added Simona Halep.
Halep’s return to the top 10 is the prize for a brilliant 2022 season in which she has won 38 matches, second only to world number 1 Iga Swiatek who won 49. Meanwhile, the Canadian Open title was his second title of the season after the Melbourne Summer Set 1 title.
While Haddad Maia will debut in the top 20 after his journey to the final of the first WTA level 1000 tournament of his career.
