Simona Halep will return to No. 2 in the new WTA rankings and believes her Australian Open conqueror can regain No. 1.
In the aftermath of her 7-6(8), 7-5 Australian Open semifinal loss to Garbiñe Muguruza, Halep said the Spaniard can regain the top spot—if she can play with the consistency she's shown in Melbourne.
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"Yeah, if she can play every day like this, she can be No. 1, for sure," Halep said of Muguruza. "But it's tough to do that. The consistency on tour, it's the most important thing and the toughest one.
"She's a great champion. She knows how to win Grand Slams, how to win titles. She's okay. Everyone has tough periods. She had before her."
World No. 32 Muguruza is projected to rise to No. 16 by reaching the AO final and could climb as high as No. 11 if she beats Sofia Kenin to take the title.
Halep, who held set points at 7-6 and 8-7 in the tie breaker, said ultimately the unseeded Muguruza played bolder on the big points.
"To lose like this hurts more, definitely. I'm in pain now, I have to admit. But life is going on," Halep said. "I think maybe I could be a little bit more brave in the points that were important. I didn't do that. Maybe I went a little bit defensive in those balls and I couldn't take the domination of the point.
"She served very well in the important moments. My return was not great today. I think it was a good match for both of us, but she was stronger in the end. In the important moments she played a little bit more braver."
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