The 2018 Simona Halep tennis season officially began on 1 January 2018 with the start of the 2018 WTA Tour. Simona Halep entered the season as the No. 1 ranked player in the world.
Year in detail
Early hard court season and Australian Open
Shenzhen Open Halep began her season at the Shenzhen Open. She was the top seed and advanced to the final after successfully defeating Nicole Gibbs, Duan Yingying, Aryna Sabalenka and Irina-Camelia Begu. She defeated her in the opponent's final that eliminated her one year ago in R16 in three sets, Kateřina Siniaková.
Australian Open Her next tournament was the Australian Open. She was the main draw favorite for the first time in a Grand Slam career. She defeated Destanee Aiava in straight sets, still in the first round injured at the right leg's ankle. She then beat Eugenie Bouchard, former world rank 5, Lauren Davis in an epic match that lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes taking the third set 15–13. The match equaled the Australian Open record for most games played in a women's singles draw match at 48 — equaling Chanda Rubin's 1996 quarterfinal win over Arantxa Sánchez Vicario. She went on to defeat Naomi Osaka in the 4th round in straight sets and former world No. 1 Karolína Plíšková in the quarter-finals, also in straight sets. She faced former world No. 1 and 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals. In the 3rd set, she saved two match points and went on to win, qualifying for the Australian Open final for the first time.
In the final, Halep was defeated by Caroline Wozniacki in three sets.
After Australian Open fell to second place for four weeks.
Qatar Ladies Open Halep then played the Qatar Open, where she received a bye in the first round. She defeated Ekaterina Makarova with a bagel in the second set. The Australian Open finalist put together a dominant performance and needed just 58 minutes. She then defeated Anastasija Sevastova, seed 13 in straight sets. Her next opponent was American, CiCi Bellis. The first set was won by a bagel. In semifinal should have played with, but withdrawing prior to her match against Garbiñe Muguruza because of a right foot injury. Nevertheless, despite not playing the next week, she returned to the top spot.
March sunshine events
Indian Wells Masters Halep then played the Indian Wells Masters, where she received a bye in the first round. She defeated Kristýna Plíšková in straight sets, Caroline Dolehide in three sets, Wang Qiang in straight sets and Petra Martić in three sets, in straight sets before she lost to Naomi Osaka again in the semifinal.
Miami Open Halep then entered the Miami Open, where she also received a bye in the first round. In round 2 beat French Océane Dodin in three sets. However, she lost in the third round to 2012 champion Agnieszka Radwańska.
European clay court season
Fed Cup, World Group-Play Off She kicked off her clay court campaign by leading Romania against Switzerland in their World Group Play-off tie in Cluj-Napoca. By virtue of a 3–1 victory with Halep going 2–0 in the singles rubbers, they secured a place in the 2019 World Group for the first time in two years.
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix After Fed Cup, Halep went to Stuttgart where she knocked a victory on Magdaléna Rybáriková before losing to quarters at CoCo Vandeweghe
Mutua Madrid Open Halep then played the Madrid Open. She defeated Ekaterina Makarova, giving up just one game, Elise Mertens with a bagel in first set, Kristýna Plíšková and advanced into the quarterfinals. However, she lost Karolína Plíšková in straight sets, after winning the last two editions and after having only 15 victories in a row.
Italian Open Halep's next tournament was the Italian Open, where she received a bye in the first round. She defeated Naomi Osaka, winner at Indian Wells, yielding a single game. In the third round should have played with Madison Keys, but the latter had to retire due to a shoulder injury, so Simona qualified in the quarter-finals without playing in round 3. In the quarter-finals defeated Caroline Garcia, the 7th World Player, with only 5 games. In semifinal has marred one of her rivals Russian, Maria Sharapova winning editions of 2011, 2012 and 2015 in an epic match. Simona won in 3 sets after losing the first set. In the final she lost to the same opponent last year, Elina Svitolina. She lost the first set to 0.
French Open In the French Open, Halep was the 1st seed for the second time in a Grand Slam. In the first round, she defeated Alison Riske losing the first set. She was forced to compete on the 4th day on Wednesday after the match was postponed due to the dark. In the second round, she easily defeated the American wildcard Taylor Townsend. Her opponent in the third round was the 2014 semi-finalist, Andrea Petkovic. Halep defeated the German in straight sets, not losing a game in the second set. Her next opponent was the 16th seed Elise Mertens, who she defeated in 59 minutes, dropping just 3 games. In the quarterfinals, she met Kerber in a rematch of the Australian Open semifinal, and defeated her once again in three sets.. In the semi-final she met former world No. 1 and French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza, and defeated her in straight sets. In the final, Halep met Sloane Stephens, and came back from a set deficit to win her first Grand Slam title, on her fourth attempt. She became the first Romanian woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Ruzici won the French Open in 1978.
All matches
Singles matches Tournament Match Round Opponent Rank Result Score Shenzhen OpenShenzhen, ChinaWTA InternationalHard, outdoor1–7 January 201811R Nicole Gibbs110Win 6–4, 6–122R Duan Yingying91Win 3−6, 6–1, 6–23QF Aryna Sabalenka 73Win 6–2, 6–24SF Irina-Camelia Begu (4)43Win 6–1, 6–45W Kateřina Siniaková (6)47 Win (1) 6–1, 2–6, 6–0 Australian Open Melbourne, AustraliaGrand SlamHard, outdoor15–28 January 201861R Destanee Aiava (WC)193Win 7–6(7–5), 6–172R Eugenie Bouchard112Win 6–2, 6–283R Lauren Davis 76Win 4–6, 6–4, 15–1394R Naomi Osaka 72Win 6–3, 6–210QF Karolína Plíšková (6)6Win 6–3, 6–211SF Angelique Kerber (21)16Win 6–3, 4–6, 9–712F Caroline Wozniacki (2)2Loss (1) 6–7(2–7), 6–3, 4–6 Qatar Open Doha, QatarWTA Premier 5Hard, outdoor12–17 February 2018–1RBye132R Ekaterina Makarova36Win 6–1, 6–0143R Anastasija Sevastova (13)15Win 6–4, 6–315QF CiCi Bellis 48Win 6–0, 6–4-SF Garbiñe Muguruza (4)4Withdrew N/A Indian Wells Open Indian Wells, United StatesWTA Premier MandatoryHard, outdoor5–18 March 2018–1RBye162R Kristýna Plíšková 77Win 6–4, 6–4173R Caroline Dolehide (WC)165Win 1–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–2184R Wang Qiang 55Win 7–5, 6–119QF Petra Martić 51Win 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–320SF Naomi Osaka 44Loss 3–6, 0–6 Miami Open Miami, United StatesWTA Premier MandatoryHard, outdoor19 March – 1 April 2018–1RBye212R Océane Dodin (WC)98Win 3–6, 6–3, 7–5223R Agnieszka Radwańska (30)32 Loss 6–3, 2–6, 3–6 Fed Cup WG Play-offs: Switzerland vs. Romania Fed CupClay, indoor21–22 April 201823- Viktorija Golubic115Win 6–3, 1–6, 6–124- Patty Schnyder149Win 6–2, 6–1 Stuttgart OpenStuttgart, GermanyWTA PremierClay, indoor23–29 April 2018–1RBye252R Magdaléna Rybáriková18Win 4–6, 6–2, 6–326QF CoCo Vandeweghe (WC)16Loss 4–6, 1–6 Madrid Open Madrid, SpainWTA Premier MandatoryClay, outdoor7–13 May 2018271R Ekaterina Makarova33Win 6–1, 6–0282R Elise Mertens16Win 6–0, 6–3293R Kristýna Plíšková (Q)94Win 6–4, 6–130QF Karolína Plíšková (6)6Loss 4–6, 3–6 Italian Open Rome, ItalyWTA Premier 5Clay, outdoor14–20 May 2018–1RBye312R Naomi Osaka21Win 6–1, 6–0-3R Madison Keys (13)14Win w/o32QF Caroline Garcia (7)7Win 6–2, 6–333SF Maria Sharapova 40Win 4–6, 6–1, 6–434F Elina Svitolina (4)4Loss (2) 0–6, 4–6 French Open Paris, FranceGrand SlamClay, outdoor27 May – 10 June 2018351R Alison Riske83Win 2–6, 6–1, 6–1362R Taylor Townsend (WC)72Win 6–3, 6–1373R Andrea Petkovic 107Win 7–5, 6–0384R Elise Mertens (16)16Win 6–2, 6–139QF Angelique Kerber (12)12Win 6–7(3–7), 6–3, 6–240SF Garbiñe Muguruza (3)3Win 6–1, 6–441W Sloane Stephens (10)10Win (2) 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 Wimbledon Championships London, United KingdomGrand SlamGrass, outdoor2–15 July 2018421R Kurumi Nara100Win 6–2, 6–4432R Zheng Saisai126Win 7–5, 6–0443R Hsieh Su-wei 48Loss 6–3, 4–6, 5–7 Canadian Open Montreal, CanadaWTA Premier 5Hard, outdoor6–12 August 2018–1RBye452R Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova28Win 7–6(11–9), 4–6, 7–5463R Venus Williams (13)14Win 6–2, 6–247QF Caroline Garcia (6)6Win 7–5, 6–148SF Ashleigh Barty (15)16Win 6–4, 6–149W Sloane Stephens (3)3Win (3) 7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–4 Cincinnati Open Cincinnati, United StatesWTA Premier 5Hard, outdoor13–19 August 2018–1RBye502R Ajla Tomljanović (Q)58Win 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 513R Ashleigh Barty (16)16Win 7–5, 6–452QF Lesia Tsurenko 44Win 6–4, 6–153SF Aryna Sabalenka 34Win 6–3, 6–454F Kiki Bertens 17Loss (3) 6–2, 6–7(6–8), 2–6 Connecticut Open New Haven, United StatesWTA PremierHard, outdoor20–26 August 2018–1RBye–2R Camila Giorgi 45Withdrew N/A U.S. Open New York City, United StatesGrand SlamHard, outdoor27 August – 9 September 2018551R Kaia Kanepi44Loss 2–6, 4–6 Wuhan Open Wuhan, ChinaWTA Premier 5Hard, outdoor23–29 September 2018–1RBye562R Dominika Cibulková31Loss 0–6, 5–7 China Open Beijing, ChinaWTA Premier MandatoryHard, outdoor1–7 October 2018571R Ons Jabeur (Q)116Loss 1–6, retired Kremlin CupMoscow, RussiaWTA PremierHard, indoor15–21 October 2018–1RBye–2R Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova40Withdrew N/A
Tournament schedule
Singles schedule Halep's 2018 singles tournament schedule is as follows: DateChampionshipLocationCategorySurface2017 result2017 points2018 pointsOutcome 1 January – 7 January Shenzhen Open Shenzhen International Hard 2R 30 280 Winner defeated Kateřina Siniaková 6–1, 2–6, 6–0 15 January – 28 January Australian Open Melbourne Grand Slam Hard 1R 10 1300 Final lost to Caroline Wozniacki 6–7(2–7), 6–3, 4–6 12 February – 17 February Qatar Open Doha Premier 5 Hard DNP 0 350 Semifinals withdrew to Garbiñe Muguruza N/A 5 March – 18 March Indian Wells Open Indian Wells Premier Mandatory Hard 3R 65 390 Semifinals lost to Naomi Osaka 3–6, 0–6 19 March – 1 April Miami Open Miami Premier Mandatory Hard QF 215 65 Third round lost to Agnieszka Radwańska 6–3, 2–6, 3–6 23 April – 29 April Stuttgart Open Stuttgart Premier Clay (i) SF 185 100 Quarterfinals lost to CoCo Vandeweghe 4–6, 1–6 7 May – 13 May Madrid Open Madrid Premier Mandatory Clay W 1000 215 Quarterfinals lost to Karolína Plíšková 4–6, 3–6 14 May – 20 May Italian Open Rome Premier 5 Clay F 585 585 Final lost to Elina Svitolina 0–6, 4–6 27 May – 10 June French Open Paris Grand Slam Clay F 1300 2000 Winner defeated Sloane Stephens 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 2 July – 15 July Wimbledon London Grand Slam Grass QF 430 130 Third round lost to Hsieh Su-wei 6–3, 4–6, 5–7 6 August – 12 August Canadian Open Montréal Premier 5 Hard SF 350 900 Winner defeated Sloane Stephens 7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–4 13 August – 19 August Cincinnati Open Cincinnati Premier 5 Hard F 585 585 Final lost to Kiki Bertens 6–2, 6–7(6–8), 2–6 20 August – 25 August Connecticut Open New Haven Premier Hard DNP 0 0 Withdrew due to injuries to achilles tendon 27 August – 9 September US Open New York City Grand Slam Hard 1R 10 10 First round lost to Kaia Kanepi 2–6, 4–6 23 September – 29 September Wuhan Open Wuhan Premier 5 Hard 2R 1 1 Second round lost to Dominika Cibulková 0–6, 5–7 1 October – 7 October China Open Beijing Premier Mandatory Hard F 650 10 First round lost to Ons Jabeur 1–6, retired 15 October – 21 October Kremlin Cup Moscow Premier Hard DNP 0 0 Withdrew due to injuries to back injuryRoad to Singapore points as of 2018 China Open differenceTotal year-end points difference
Yearly records
Head-to-head matchups SurfaceWin–lossWin%Hard28–6Clay16–3Grass2–1Overall46–10 Players are ordered by letter. (Bold denotes a top 10 player at the time of the most recent match between the two players, Italic denotes top 50.)
Top 10 wins