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PARIS – French Open seed Simona Halep put on a disciplined performance to tame fellow Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu (6-3 6-4) in the second round on Wednesday, extending her winning streak to 16 matches.
World number two Halep arrived at Roland Garros after winning her last three tournaments, two of them on clay courts in Prague and Rome, and started as the big favorite to score a second French Open title. to his Grand Slam cabinet.
Halep, who skipped the US Open due to the COVID-19 pandemic, got off to a strong start on the court Suzanne Lenglen, jumping to a 3-0 lead against an opponent she had beaten in her previous seven encounters.
“It is never easy to play against a Romanian and against Irina, we played so many times,” Halep, who turned 29 on Sunday, told reporters. “It’s never easy, she’s a very strong opponent and she’s also powerful, the serve is really strong.”
Despite the slow start, Begu, who is ranked 73rd, refused to give up and switched to a more offensive game plan and paid dividends as the 30-year-old regained the game with a break for 4-3. .
Halep had to dig deep and the 2018 champion got the second break in the eighth game and then held serve to win the first set.
Begu hit seven more winners than Halep in the match, but also had 15 more unforced errors, and a second service break was enough for Halep to secure the second set and a third-round spot.
Halep had played under the closed roof of the Philippe Chatrier court in his first game and said he fought under the heaviest and slowest conditions on the open court.
“Today I really felt like I was very slippery at the back of the court because there was no roof,” said Halep, who managed to get 80% of his first serves during the game.
“It’s different, I have to say. But it’s nice here anyway, every court is beautiful, so I’m ready to face anything. “
The Wimbledon champion scored her 15th winner at match point and will then face American teenager Amanda Anisimova, who earlier defeated compatriot Bernarda Pera 6-2 6-0.
Anisimova ended Halep’s title defense last year before losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty. – Reuters
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