By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday June 15, 2022
Back on the grass for the first time since winning the Wimbledon title in 2019, Simona Halep is hitting her stride at a rapid clip.
The two-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 has reached the quarterfinals at the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham without dropping a set.
“I’m really pleased with the way I played,” said Halep, who says her desire to win is as strong as it ever has been. “The fire I have - I don’t know about the game. I’m doing my best every time I step on the court, and I’m looking forward to play as many matches as possible, and to get the feeling I had in 2019. Slowly I connect with the court and I just feel better and better.”
The Romanian, seeded second, toppled Harriet Dart on Wednesday, 6-3, 6-2, to set a last eight clash with wild card Katie Boulter.
Boulter has plowed through No.7-seeded Alison Riske and Caroline Garcia in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals. The 25-year-old World No.141 will face Halep for the first time.
Halep, who stretched her winning streak on grass to nine matches, is now 38-15 on the surface, and 37-10 since the start of 2013 on grass.
Qualifier Donna Vekic (d. McNally), Zhang Shuai (d. Fett) and Sorana Cirstea (d. Krunic) were also winners on Wednesday in Birmingham.