WTA Prague: Simona Halep wastes six match points but edges Polona Hercog in thriller

In February, Simona Halpe claimed the first WTA title since Wimbledon last July, beating Elina Rybakina to lift the trophy in Dubai. That proved to be the Romanian's final match in five months, with the coronavirus halting the action until last week when the WTA Tour restarted in Palermo. Simona had to withdraw from Palermo, entering this week's Prague event and making a winning start against Polona Hercog. World no. 2 survived a scare in a 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 triumph in two and a half hours, wasting six match points before crossing the finish line in the deciding set tie break for the place in the last 16. It was their first match of the season after three duels in 2019, battling hard in the final set and giving the crowd in Prague something to cheer about. Simona claimed four points more than Polona, fending off five out of 11 break points and earning six return games from 19 opportunities to cross the finish line first.

Hercog came from 5-3 down in the final set, fending off those six match points in back-to-back service games with brave hitting to reach a tie break where she finally laid down her weapons. Simona made a strong start, earning three breaks in the opener and closing it with a hold at 15 in game seven for a 6-1. From a break down early in the second set, the Slovenian bounced back to notch three breaks in a row, dominating the court to take the set 6-1 and earn momentum ahead of the decider. They traded breaks in games four and five, staying close to each other until another break for Simona that sent her 5-3 up.

Simona Halep needed two and a half hours to oust Polona Hercog.

Breaking back at 15 in game nine, Polona refused to go away, repelling those six match points in games ten and 12 to set a tie break that the Romanian claimed 7-3 to avoid an upset. Before Prague, Simona had played three WTA tournaments in 2020, suffering a tight semi-final loss at the Australian Open to Garbine Muguruza and winning the title in Dubai in February. Halep didn't compete on the highest level at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, but it was enough to pass all the obstacles and lift the trophy. A year ago, Simona claimed her second Major title at Wimbledon, ousting Serena Williams 6-2, 6-2 in 56 minutes, earning her first crown at the All England Club after a flawless performance. The Romanian was the player to beat in those two weeks, losing one set in seven encounters and toppling Victoria Azarenka, Cori Gauff, Elina Svitolina and Serena Williams for the brightest moment of her career so far.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2PI1zTB