Simona Halep shakes off losses faster these days, but that doesn't mean the sting of defeat is diminished. For Halep, crying is caring.
Marketa Vondrousova stopped the third-seeded Halep, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, to roll into the Indian Wells quarterfinals. Halep joined world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, seventh-seeded Kiki Bertens and 18th-seeded Qiang Wang falling in the fourth round.
More: Kohlschreiber Shocks Djokovic
The reigning Roland Garros champion conceded she shed tears after today's loss, but says the pain of defeat doesn't linger as long anymore.
"Yeah, the losses are easier now. I shake it off faster, but still, I'm disappointed and upset," Halep said. "Actually, today I cried after a long time. It's normal. And I give 100 percent of my inside on every match, every tournament, so that's why I suffer a little bit when I lose.
"But I learn from these matches. I'm looking forward for the next week, next tournament, and I won't give up."
Crying can be cathartic for Halep, who confesses her 2017 French Open final loss to Jelena Ostapenko triggered a tide of tears.
"The cry was, the worst one, was after French Open final 2017," Halep told the media in Indian Wells. "I think everyone knows that and feels that. And today I just, yeah, it just came (smiling).
"Yeah, I cried a little bit, because I felt that I need to cry. I suffer for every loss. So I think it's a good thing."
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve