Women’s Semifinals: [2] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs. [5] Simona Halep (ROU)
3:2 was their head-to-head going into this match. Kerber had won the last two encounters; however, Halep had never lost to her on hard court. Things looked to be heading that way again today for Halep, who got off to a blistering start, winning the first set 6-0. Nevertheless, we have watched Kerber long enough to know that no matter the score, she will fight her way back into the match. She took the second set and all the momentum shifted to her side of the net, at least so it seemed early in the third. Halep known to be prone to negativity, seemed to lose her focus and started making a slew of errors. She actually appeared as if she had given up mentally and seemed not to care if her shots went in or out.
Yet, as fans, we are never sure what thoughts are going through the mind of a player. Kerber has impressed me lately with her belief and confidence; I am still not sure of Halep’s mental fortitude. She can play brilliant tennis one minute and lose it the next. It seemed that way early in the third set when she went down 0-2. Somehow, she found a way to derail Kerber’s momentum and surprisingly, she proved to be the stronger of the two late in the match. Kerber got anxious and started to press a little. Halep won 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 and heads to the final, for the second consecutive year, to await either Madison Keys (2:1) or the qualifier Kristina Kucova (1st meeting). Will this be Halep’s year, she lost it last year to Belinda Bencic?
