Is Simona Halep now the Wimbledon women’s singles favourite?

James Richardson
July 5, 2022

The exit from Wimbledon of Iga Swiatek and the excellent run of form displayed by Simona Halep have many believing the Romanian can claim a second Championships.

Halep, seeded 16th, made quick work of Paula Badosa to reach the Wimbledon last eight and faces American Amanda Anisimova for a place in the semi-finals.

Former World No 2 Agnieszka Radwanska believes that Halep’s new aggressive approach sets her up as one of the favourites.

“I saw her matches this year here,” Radwanska told Eurosport.

“She looks very good – [there is a] fire in her eyes.

“She is really trying to play more aggressive tennis and is serving pretty well, so I think she can do it [win the title] this year.

“I think Simona can also play good tennis on the grass. She is also more experienced at that level, so I still think [Halep] can win the whole thing.

“I think the top 10 is pretty open.

“I think there are a lot of players playing at the same level.

“I think Iga Swiatek and Ash Barty, before she retired, are the only two players that are playing very consistently, very powerfully. Those two – that would be like [Novak] Djokovic and [Rafael] Nadal at the moment in men’s tennis.

“Ash, unfortunately, she has gone, so it is only Iga, and I think except Iga, everyone has the same chance. The level is very cool and that is why you can see a lot of different names, even different names not from the top 30 in the second week of a Grand Slam.

“I think those kinds of years… everything is going to change. A lot of older players retired and now it is an open space. So I think we will wait for the new generation coming in [and there will be a] time when we’re all going to see the same names, like before, in the top 10.”

Simona Halep feeling refreshed

Meanwhile, 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli also puts Halep among those who could stand victorious on Centre Court come Saturday.

“Ons Jabeur is playing great tennis. She was my pick to win the Wimbledon title. I think Simona Halep has been extremely impressive, the way she won against Badosa was really quite something. Those two should be the ones going through to the final but in this year’s championship there have been so many upsets you never know.” Bartoli told UbiTennis.

Simona Halep