Former seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander said Simona Halep relying on her legs to finish off the match versus Amanda Anisimova was “very smart” and added he feels the Romanian is better player than she was three years ago.
In the Wimbledon quarterfinal, Halep saw off Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-4. Halep had a comfortable 6-2 5-1 lead but Anisimova refused to quit and cut the deficit to 5-4. In the 10th game, Anisimova had three consecutive break points to completely get back into the second set but Halep saved as she managed to serve out for the match.
“She [Halep] looked a little bit tight at the end as Amanda Anisimova started hitting the ball better,” Wilander told Eurosport. “Coming back from 0-40, 4-5 and holding, what a great effort from Simona. That is why it was so interesting in the on-court interview when she said ‘I needed my legs’ because her arm was probably a little bit tight.
She relied on her legs, which is very smart, and very experienced because everyone gets nervous in their arms sometimes but legs are the greatest tool when you get nervous.”
Wilander: Halep is a better player now
In 2019, Halep lifted her maiden Wimbledon title after crushing Serena Williams in the final 6-2 6-2.
Halep hasn’t dropped a set at Wimbledon so far this fortnight as she has clinched five straight-set wins en route to making the semifinal. “She is a lot better player now [compared to when she won Wimbledon in 2019], but it doesn’t always mean you get the results often.
I think she is more complete, serves better and is willing to go forwards a little bit. She threatens to take the ball early and she forces the opponent to go for too much,” Wilander added. In the Wimbledon semifinal, Halep faces Elena Rybakina. Halep has a 2-1 head-to-head versus Rybakina.
