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Simona Halep Australian Open 2020

Simona Halep describes injury as ‘toughest time of my career’ ahead of Montreal


Simona Halep is set to return to the court for the first time since Rome after a cruel injury put her out of two Slams and the Olympics.

The Romanian had to forgo the two Slams and a chance at a medal to recover from a calf injury.

Roland Garros and Wimbledon are historically the best Slams for Halep, as champion in 2018 and 2019 once respectively.

“Anything is possible with such an injury,” she told reporters from Henri Coanda Airport in Romania. “I had never been through something like this, a torn muscle.

“The doctors told me that I have recovered; I feel recovered, but in an official match it is different. So I will see when I get there [in Montreal].

“It was the hardest time of my career because it was a pretty serious injury, I had never met anything like that, but I took the positive side and I was glad to stay home.”

Halep was forced to retire from her match with Angelique Kerber in Rome, but will be hoping to make a strong return at the National Bank Open, an event she has won twice in 2016 and 2018.

“I’m much better now, I’ve rested mentally,” Halep continued. “But I’m also physically well; I didn’t have any pain while I trained. Now I hope to be able to play the tournaments. I intend to be healthy and play as many matches as possible.

“I am missing the field, I am missing competition, and I know it will be very difficult at the beginning, but I’m not afraid. I will go there with confidence and I will see what I can do.

“The time I spent at home was very nice. It’s always pleasant to be at home and hard to leave. But I’m motivated for what’s next, my mind is there.”