Former world No.1 and 2019 champion Simona Halep produced a dominant performance to stroll into the fifth Wimbledon quarter-final of her career with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over No.4 seed Paula Badosa on Monday.
Special Simona 💪
Our 2019 champion defeats Paula Badosa 6-1, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/yux7UnL9Ro
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2022
The 2019 champion has now won her last 11 consecutive matches at the All England Club and will next take on American Amanda Anisimova.
Former world No.1 Halep, seeded No.16 at these Championships, saved the sole break point she faced throughout the match and dropped just two points on her first serve on her way to a maiden career triumph.
"It's very special to be back"
We've missed you too, @Simona_Halep 🥺#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/TIoROuruD7
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2022
“I missed a lot to play Wimbledon, three years, so it’s a lot,” said Halep, who couldn’t defend her title in 2020 when the Championships were cancelled, and missed the 2021 tournament with a calf injury.
“It’s very special to be back. Yesterday I was on the court (for Centre Court’s centenary celebrations) with all the champions and it was amazing.”
“Actually I was more nervous yesterday than today. It’s always a pleasure to come back and to have the chance to play on Centre Court. It’s a beautiful court and always I try to give my best.”
“Definitely it was the place that I wanted to be today,” said Halep, who is contesting her 10th Wimbledon.
“I think I played a great match; it’s always tough to play against her, she’s a great player. I was nervous before but I enjoyed a lot to be back on Centre Court in front of this beautiful crowd.”
Halep now owns 30 victories in 2022, trailing only Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur on the WTA Tour’s leaderboard for most wins this season.
Badosa, who was looking to become the first Spanish woman since 2017 to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals, admits it was a “day to forget” on court against Halep.
“I think everything went wrong. She played a good match,” added the 24-year-old from Catalunya. “But I want to talk about me. I think it wasn’t my day today.”
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