[5] Simona Halep (ROU) vs. [54] Danka Kovinic (MNE)
This was the first meeting between these two and I expected Halep to win. I thought Kovinic could have offered a bit more of a challenge, but one never knows what’s going on in her head in any given match. She strikes the ball well; however, she is not a good mover and often seems not interested in chasing down the shot. I am not sure if it’s a lack of interest or if she believes that she is physically not capable of getting to the ball. Os perhaps, it’s a lack of confidence in her entire game. In any event, I would like to see her try a bit harder, it makes the fans feel more inclined to cheer for her.
Her entire demeanor is quite reserved, which is good if it implies focus, but bad if it is an indication of lack of interest. I would prefer to think the former because I cannot imagine why a player would make the sacrifices to become a professional player if there was not a certain degree of interest and commitment to achieving success on the tour. Halep won 6-4, 6-2 and heads to the semifinals to play American Vania King. King is ranked 144, and quite an expert in doubles. Interestingly they have played twice on hard court and Halep won their last encounter. Can King pull off the upset, knocking out the home crowd favorite? I know that King will give it her all; however, I think Halep has too many weapons, plus the advantage of the crowd cheering her on may be too much of an obstacle for King to overcome.
