National Bank Open | Simona Halep will face Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals

(Toronto) Simona Halep has won two National Bank Open titles, including her last in 2018. But the 30-year-old Romanian says she’s a whole different person today.

Halep advanced to the semifinals of the tournament following a 6-4, 7-6 (2) victory over American Coco Gauff on Friday afternoon in Toronto.

Halep says she has evolved on and off the court since winning the final of the tournament then called the Rogers Cup four years ago in Montreal.

“I’ve changed a lot, like no one else,” said Halep, who also won the tournament in 2016, also in Montreal.

“As a player, I don’t know exactly what I did, but I feel like I’ve improved on many levels. Then the pandemic arrived and I think it was a bit complicated for everyone. But I’m a better person. I am a better player. It helps me and gives me confidence to work hard. »

A first duel

The first six seeds of the tournament having all been eliminated before the quarter-finals, the American Jessica Pegula (7^e) is the highest ranked among the players still in contention. By virtue of her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Kazakh Yulia Putintseva, Pegula will meet Halep in the semi-finals on Saturday.

In Pegula’s mind, being the highest-ranked player among those still in contention will not make it any easier on her quest for a second career title.

“I feel like these days anyone can be successful. And, of course, I will play against Halep, who is a great champion. So, no, it’s never easy. »

Halep and Pegula have never faced each other. During her press conference, the Romanian glanced at a nearby television as Pegula enjoyed a match point.

“It’s going to be a big challenge facing a new opponent, but it’s always like that,” Halep said. But it will be a semi-final and for sure she will play good tennis. She is solid. She’s already at the top. »

The clash between Halep and Gauff was the only quarter-final match featuring two players ranked among the tournament’s top seeds. Halep was 15^e and Gauff, 10^e.

Halep is now 4-0 against Gauff in singles play on the WTA Tour. The Romanian still sees Gauff, who is only 18, as an increasingly dangerous opponent.

“She is a little stronger. She hits harder, and the serve was much stronger today. His backhand is always tough,” described Halep, whose previous duel against Gauff came in Madrid earlier this season.

“I think she’s improved a lot since we met last time. »

The other matches

Later Friday afternoon, Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and her partner Giuliana Olmos of Mexico advanced to the doubles semifinals with a 2-6, 6-2, 10-0 win over Slovenia’s Andreja Klepac and the Chilean Alexa Guarachi.

Dabrowski and Olmos will have an appointment with the duo made up of American Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Australian Ellen Perez.

In one of the two quarter-final matches played in the evening, the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia continued her good run by ousting the Swiss Belinda Bencic, 12^e seeded, 2-6, 6-3 and 6-3.

Earlier in the tournament, Haddad Maia had eliminated Lavalloise Leylah Fernandez, 13^e in the world, then world number one Iga Swiątek.

The other quarter-final match will see Czech Karolína Plíšková, 14^e seeded, cross swords with China’s Zheng Qinwen.