Halep advances to Indian Wells semi-finals thanks to ‘best game of 2022’

Halep advances to Indian Wells semi-finals

Simona Halep convincingly qualified for the semi-finals of the heavily occupied tournament in Indian Wells on Wednesday evening (local time). The Romanian won with ease against the Croatian Petra Martic.

Thirty-year-old Halep only needed 55 minutes to secure the victory: 6-1 and 6-1. The former number one in the world won many points on her first serve, was never broken and awarded Martic only 21 points in the entire match.

It is the third time and the first since 2018 that Halep can call himself a semi-finalist at Indian Wells. In 2019 and 2021, she was eliminated in the fourth and third rounds respectively. Halep won the American hard court tournament in 2015.

“I think this was my best race of the year,” said a satisfied Halep. “I felt super good and confident. I did everything I had to do. This gives me the confidence that I can still perform at this level in what has been a tough year for me.”

Halep advances to Indian Wells semi-finals thanks to ‘best game of 2022’

Halep won Roland Garros (2018) and Wimbledon (2019) and reached the final of a Grand Slam tournament a total of five times, but she rarely shows that top form. 

She did win the WTA tournament in Melbourne at the beginning of this year, but has now dropped to 26th position in the world ranking.

At Indian Wells, Halep will face global number four Iga Swiatek for a place in the final. The 2020 Polish Roland Garros winner made short work of the American Madison Keys: 6-1 and 6-0.