Halep Back in Paris to Defend Title

Date: 24 May 2019 - 22:00

News ID: ۶۶۳۲۷

PARIS (AP) -- Simona Halep is experiencing something new at the French Open this year.
The Romanian player is back in Paris to defend her title, a situation she's never been in before.
''Much better and much easier, because I have the title already,'' Halep said Friday at Roland Garros. ''Doesn't matter anymore what is going to happen. Everything now comes as a bonus. So I will try just to give my best and to see if I'm able to do it again.''
Halep, the second Romanian woman to win a Grand Slam title after Virginia Ruzici in 1978, won the French Open last year by rallying past Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final. She had previously lost three Grand Slams finals, including two on the French clay.
Before her win, the former top-ranked player often had the unpleasant tendency to crumble on big occasions. Like two years ago in the French Open final, when she led Jelena Ostapenko by a set and 3-0 only to fall apart.
She said her defending champion status takes a lot of pressure off.
*******Defending champion Romania's Simona Halep smiles as she poses next to the cup during the draw of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 23, 2019. The French Open tennis tournament starts Sunday May 26.