Having qualified for the second round of the National Bank Open in Toronto without emotion, Simona Halep said she was satisfied with her performance against Donna Vekic (6-0, 6-2).

Simona Halep’s message to Patrik Muratoglu after her first-round win in Toronto

Simona was out a week ago due to high temperatures in Washington, but she played much better on Monday and sent a message to coach Patrick Muratoglu.

“Of course, I saw the Romanian flags, I was welcomed very pleasantly. I played good tennis here. I’m very happy to be back, I’m happy with how I played today.

It’s about trust. It’s not about the result, it’s about the way I played, I was aggressive. That’s my plan and I want to implement it in every game.

I hope I made Patrik (not Muratoglu) proud after this game. My last match was not very successful. I spoke to him before the game and did everything he told me.” Simona Halepduring the field interview.

Know:

• For reaching the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto, Simona Halep will receive $17,445 and 60 points in the WTA singles ranking.
• Simona will fight for the eighth place with the winner of the match between the Chinese Shuai Zhang (45 WTA) and the Iberian Cristina Bucha (122 WTA, qualifier).
• Halep won the Rogers Cup (the previous name of the competition) twice in 2016 and 2018, but in Montreal. In 2021, Simona Halep was stopped in the second round, losing to Danielle Collins.

A virtual tour of Simona Halep at the tournament in Toronto

First round: 6-0, 6-2 vs. Donna Vekic

Round II: Shuai Zhang / Christina Buch

Best: Annette Kontawait / Jill Teichman / Venus Williams

Quarters: Corey Gauff / Arina Sabalanka / Olena Rybakina

Semifinals: Paula Badosa / Petra Kvitova / Jelena Ostapenko / Jessica Pegula / Emma Reducanu

Final: Iga Sviatek / Ons Jaber / Maria Sakkari / Belinda Bencic / Garbine Muguruza / Naomi Osaka.

The tournament in Toronto has a prize pool of $2,697,250 and is held on a “hard” surface. The last winner is the Italian Camila Giorgi.