Simona Halep looked frustrated and even smashed her racket during a Hong Kong Open first-round defeat but afterward delivered a positive message and insisted that she needed to stay patient and trust the process.
The former world No. 1, who was cleared to return from a doping ban in March, made her second main-level appearance in Hong Kong after previously playing at the Miami Open. But just like in Miami, the 33-year-old saw her campaign end after just one match after Yuan Yue handed her a 6-3 6-3 defeat.
After the Chinese opened a 5-2 first-set lead, Halep hit her racket against the court surface. Also, the two-time Grand Slam champion could have been heard ranting to herself in Romanian.
“My level was not bad at all but the opponent played really well and had confidence. I’m not happy with the way I played but it was much better than the previous match,” she reflected.
Simona Halep© Simona Halep/X – Fair Use
Halep on her next plans
Following her return to tennis from a one-and-a-half-year absence in Miami, the 2019 Wimbledon champion also appeared in two WTA 125 (Challenger) tournaments. Since she is currently ranked at No. 883 in the world, the former world No. 1 needs either main draw or qualifying wildcard to enter the main-level tournaments.
And when asked about her plans for the upcoming period, Halep noted that not everything is in her hands.
“It depends on the wildcards, but I just want to work harder because I need a stronger body to perform at this level. I will take it slow. I have to give myself patience and try to get better day by day,” she said.
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old also took to X to share a little note.
“Step by step, we keep moving forward (praying emoji),” she wrote.
Step by step, we keep moving forward 🙏 pic.twitter.com/YguPXC9SFR
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) October 28, 2024
Romania is set to participate at the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Finals in mid-November but Halep wasn’t nominated after struggling with knee injury for months before recently returning.