Backspin Flashback: Halep's Wimbledon Dream (2019)
In the aftermath of her retirement from tennis, a special Backspin reminiscence of the greatest moments of the career of Simona Halep. Up next... Wimbledon.
While Simona Halep's legacy will always revolve around her trials and triumphs in Paris, her 2019 Wimbledon title run was her most impressive career performance, and it ultimately defined *her* career like few other *second* major wins ever have. In many ways, SW19 was the "proving ground" for Romania's only Wimbledon champion. One slam after reaching her maiden slam final at Roland Garros in 2014, Halep reached the semis at Wimbledon. Back-to-back QF in 2016-17 proved it hadn't been a one-year aberration, with the second last eight result coming after another final in Paris. Then, in 2019, in the first major since the end of Halep's reign as the RG champ, she dropped just one set over the fortnight in London, thwarting Serena Williams' third (of what would be four) attempts in major finals at title #24 with a tactical masterpiece pulled off as perfectly as if it'd been penned in calligraphic handwriting on fine paper with a feathered quill pen whose tip has been dipped in India ink. And *that* match had come after a nearly-as-pristine snuffing out of rival Elina Svitolina in the semis.
Rick Blaine once told Ilsa Lund, "We'll always have Paris." So would Halep. But, for Simona, London provied her most cherished moment of all. Simona's Wimbledon dream come true (as it was seen then)...
See Simona. See Simona win. See Simona win Wimbledon? Yes, as a matter of fact. We just did.
On the occasion of the 2019 Wimbledon Ladies final, Simona Halep answered the time honored question that centers around what one does *after* getting what they'd always dreamed of. It's a query that has stumped many before who'd won their first major title, only to be then forced to ask themselves, "Now what?"
But, past self-flagellating appearances aside, there has rarely been a player more eager to battle than Halep. While many over the past year have seized upon the former #1's "chill year" description of her twelve-month reign as the leading lady of Paris as a sign that she may have lost her edge, was lackadaisical or didn't have the same desire to win major crowns, Halep's results have always countered any such notion. She was a point away from the rare back-to-back Montreal/Cincinnati combo last summer, led Romania to a huge Fed Cup win over the Czechs in February, and has never been anything less than game and/or in-the-mix at nearly every big event she's played in 2019 even if she *didn't* have anything tangible (like a singles title) at hand to unquestionably prove it as recently as two weeks ago. Sometimes she just lost, was beaten (just no longer *by* herself). She accepted it, learned from it, and moved on. It wasn't the end of the world, but it could still be the start of a good thing. That, more than anything, is the mantra that has driven the current version of Simona forward to new experiences, including winning at SW19. While Halep has never "left" since the spring of last year, what she proved to be in London over the last fortnight *is* something new. With her RG reign behind her, she confirmed at this Wimbledon that the "better Simona" that she and former coach Darren Cahill strived to create has unequivocally emerged from her cocoon, fully formed and brilliant. Her win over Serena Williams in the today's final, if one only managed to maintain a glancing focus on the proceedings, appeared to come with relative ease. But it was hardly that. At various times, Williams seemed on the verge of emerging in her own right, only to see the Romanian's hard work thwart such momentum from being established by chasing down ball after ball, gliding atop the grass surface from sideline to sideline and then finding room to strike a winner or put Serena into a position where she couldn't keep the rally alive. Here comes Serena. No. Then *here* she comes. Umm, still no. Soon, Halep held a dominant edge on the scoreboard, between the lines and in the air. Then the notion dawned, this was *really* going to happen. Somewhere in the middle of Simona's masterpiece in southwest London, it was almost as if an in-her-prime Justine Henin had been transported through time and into the body of what once was the young Romanian girl (La Petit Swarmette?) who'd idolized the Belgian. Henin, in spite of her size, found ways to tactically frustrate more powerful players, to out-prepare and sometimes even out-will them. She even did it against one Serena Williams, defeating her in three consecutive slam QF in 2007, as well as in their biggest slam match ('03 RG semi) with the same sort of confidence, lack of fear, and utterly crystal-clear clarity and adherence to an agreed upon game plan that Halep showed in her match with Williams today.
By now, Halep was fully in the flow. Up 4-2, she again led love/30 on Serena's serve. Williams fought back to hold a GP, but too many errors reversed the course of the game. She saved Halep's first BP with an ace, her first of the match. But on BP #2, Halep immediately seized control of the rally and then ended it with a backhand winner down the line to take a 5-2 lead. Serving for the title, Halep went up 30/love when Williams' backhand sailed long. She put in a big serve to lead 40/love. It took two attempts, but on her second MP Halep claimed the title when Williams netted a forehand, ending the 6-2/6-2 match after just fifty-six minutes.
The moment @Simona_Halep became Romania's first ever #Wimbledon singles champion ???? pic.twitter.com/bny53dP8AL
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
In recent years -- since Jana Novotna went from crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent to lifting the Venus Rosewater dish -- has there been a more decidedly *human* slam champion than Halep? Or one who has freely admitted her failings quite so unflinchingly, dealt with them so openly, and then ultimately conquered them while the sports world (and her entire "Si-mo-na!" crazy home nation) watched? Oh, there have been quite a few multi-dimensional figures on the slam-winning stage over the years, but has any been as open and honest a book, warts and all, as the Romanian *and* successfully come back for more after having experienced such highs and lows? Surely a few are in the conversation (from Halep's opponent today to fellow Wimbledon champ Marion Bartoli, and even Li Na and Amelie Mauresmo, the latter also a winner at SW19), but you'd really have to spend many hours splitting hairs to put Halep anywhere but *atop* that list. It's been quite a journey of discovery these last few years. For Halep, as well as for anyone who's been invested in her quest to embrace her favored identity. While Roland Garros allowed her to finally exhale a year ago, Wimbledon now enables her to take another gulp of air. Who really knows what will come next?
The Wimbledon title run didn't ultimately prove to be a stepping stone to something *more*, and as things turns out Halep was never even given the chance to bask in the annual glory bestowed upton the reigning women's champ at the AELTC with a Day 2 Centre Court-opening match. The tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, of course, the Halep was out injured in '21. THen, even with 2021 Wimbledon champ Ash Barty having retired prior to the start of play at SW19 in '22, the returning Halep was *denied* a chance to belatedly take her turn atop the Day 2 schedule. The honor -- incredulously -- instead went to #1 seed Iga Swiatek in what has proven to be the Pole's worst, and most disinterested, major; while on that same day Halep was third up... on Court 1.. Swiatek would lose in the 3rd Round, while Halep would reach the semifinals in her final Wimbledon appearance. Halep never seemed to be bothered by the act of disrespect. And, as it turned out, it would prove to be small potatoes compared to what was to come.
Next: All good things must come to an end, but some endings are more tidy than others.
posted by Todd.Spiker @ 12:52 PM
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