PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI
Simona Halep corrects course to defeat Aga Radwanska. Photo: Christopher Johnson www.GrandSlamMagazine.com
Simona Halep lost the first four games of the match to Agnieszka Radwanska, then corrected course and dropped just two more games the rest of the way to win 7-5 6-1 and advance to the Western & Southern Open semifinals.
Radwanska dropped just two points on her serve in her first two service games as she raced to a 4-0 lead and even held a game point in her next service game but failed to win that point. Halep would also win the next two points to break and get on the board. In fact, Halep would break Radwanska's serve eight consecutive times on her way to victory.
Aga Radwanska started quickly, then faded when Simona Halep switched gears. Photo: Christopher Johnson www.GrandSlamMagazine.com
Following the match, Halep elaborated on her change in tactics: "I didn't hit as strong as I did first four games and I didn't miss as I did at the beginning. She was playing really well at the beginning, those four games, but then I had just to change, to play more angles, and then I came back and I think I was the one that was dominating match."
Simona Halep has not yet won a major and as a result, hired Darren Cahill to help her to win. I asked Halep about what she is doing differently in working with him: "I work more, first thing. I have more confidence in myself. He gives me this. I think tactics I play better now with him. He gives me good advices about opponents and about what I have to play with different styles of game."
From 0-4 down in the opening set, Simona Halep won 13 of the next 15 games to win the match. In the Cincinnati semifinals, Halep will play Angelique Kerber, the Silver Medalist at the Rio Summer Games.
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