The Romanian defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets of 7-6 (13/11), 4-6 and 6-3 on Friday.
The 30-year-old had to work hard for 2 hours 25 minutes to overcome the Kazakh player, No. 20 in the world, notably winning the tie-breaker of the first set which alone lasted 17 minutes.
Rybakina was tough, she who reached the quarterfinals of the last French Open (beating Serena Williams) and who finished 4th in the Olympic tournament in Tokyo. But an injury to her left foot slowed her down in the third set, and the Romanian took advantage.
It was a very complicated game, admitted Halep. I knew she was very powerful. I knew I had to be strong and that I had to stay calm, but I didn’t.
Simona Halep was a semifinalist at the U.S. Open in 2015, but was beaten in the first round in 2017 and 2018.
She will face in the next round the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (5th).
After Halep, Muguruza
Garbine Muguruza, 10th in the world rankings, also qualified for the round of 16. She beat in three sets of 6-4, 3-6 and 6-2 the finalist of 2020, Victoria Azarenka, 19th in the world.
:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/9e3350b2-0cea-11ec-a914-0217670beecd.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 "Biden Wants To Release Secret 9/11 Attack Documents | Abroad")
