Simona Halep news: Tennis great believes Romanian is the women’s equivalent of Rafael Nadal

Tennis legend Chris Evert believes that Romanian player and former world No 1, Simona Halep, is the women’s equivalent of 21 time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, due to them having a similar style of play.
Halep has only won two Grand Slam titles as opposed to the Spaniard’s 21, but they are both known for their hard work and determination to come back to the sport quickly after injury.
The French Open winner sustained a couple of bad injuries last season including a muscle tear in her left calf, which ruled her out of the Tokyo Olympics, and an injury to her right adductor which meant she couldn’t play in the Canada Masters.
📍@BNPPARIBASOPEN 🌴 pic.twitter.com/8yYQ2J9IR5
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) March 8, 2022
But so far this season she’s managed to win the Melbourne Summer Set, reach the semi finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships and is currently through to the round of 16 at the Indian Wells Masters, and it’s this resilience which Evert admires.
“Simona Halep is another player like Nadal who has to work harder in training, in the gym, in matches – she is known for three-set matches and comebacks, she is not tall or strong so she has to rely more on her legs and movement,” the 67-year-old explained.
“I think it just depends on her, I’m a big fan of Simona, I like her game, I think she can beat a lot of these players who are ranked ahead of her.
“I can’t believe she’s the 24th favourite (seed at Indian Wells), it’s ridiculous but I know it’s because she was injured, she didn’t play, but she has what it takes to get back in the top five – she is stronger than almost all these players and moves as well as the best on the circuit.”
Halep will be aiming to progress further at the BNP Paribas Open, but she has to see off Keys first if she has any chance of making it to the final.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Exclusive – Former British No 1 insists Novak Djokovic deserves more respect
Novak Djokovic deserves equal billing alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon ranking points decision sparking angry reaction from players
The decision from the ATP and WTA…
-
French Open
Carlos Alcaraz ‘a different person’ as he prepares for second French Open
Carlos Alcaraz heads into the French Open…
-
ATP Tour
Cameron Norrie wins Lyon Open for fourth career title
Cameron Norrie claims his fourth career title in Lyon.
-
News
Novak Djokovic ready to be tested in French Open defence after ‘very tough’ draw
The Serbian could face Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev if he wants to win the title
-
French Open
Iga Swiatek relaxed as she returns to happy hunting ground
Iga Swiatek says she is prepared for the day her winning streak is broken.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon doubles down on Russian ban despite stripping of ranking points
Wimbledon organisers said they ‘made the only viable decision’.
-
News
Peng Shuai latest: IOC says she is ‘looking forward to visiting Europe’
Peng’s safety and freedom has been a concern since she appeared to allege in a social media post that she had been sexually assaulted.
-
Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic and Emma Raducanu facing huge rankings drop after Wimbledon decision
Djokovic is almost certain to lose his No.1 ranking.
-
Wimbledon
Comment – Why the removal Wimbledon’s ranking points could backfire on the ATP and WTA
Wimbledon has been stripped of its ATP ranking points following the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players.