Halep Wins Biggest Career Title at WTA Dubai

Simona Halep upheld her top seeding at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, on Saturday in the final topping No. 17 seed Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 7-6(4).
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“At the beginning of the tournament some people asked me if I felt pressure because I was the No. 1 seed,” said the Romanian after claiming the biggest title of her career. “I said no, because I wasn’t thinking about it, and I just wanted to go on court and play match by match, because everyone would play really well here.”

Halep captured the 10th title of her career, and second of the year after Shezhen.

“I played with big players like Makarova, Pliskova, Wozniacki — she was No. 1 two years. So it’s honestly just an amazing victory for me.”

Halep improved to 10-6 in career finals, while Pliskova fell to 3-5.

“I was trying to turn it around, but even if I won the second set, I don’t know if I would have won the whole match,” Pliskova said. “It would still have been hard because she doesn’t give up on any point. She runs really, really well, and it’s hard to kill the ball against her.”

Halep will rise from 4 to No. 3 on the WTA Tour Rankings.

“I’m very happy right now,” she said. “I cannot explain in words how I feel. It’s an amazing title for me. It’s very important for my career. I’m really happy and just want to enjoy this moment.