‘I’ve got my energy back’ – Simona Halep explains huge improvement at Australian Open

Simona Halep says she was not feeling confident heading to the Australian Open, but de-stressing has energised her game in Melbourne.

Halep is yet to drop a set in the tournament, and easily overcame Elise Mertens to move into the quarter-finals on Monday.

However, it could have easily been very different for the Romanian, who admitted that she started the season completely cold and struggling for belief.

“I did off-season in Dubai, I worked hard,” Halep said. “Then I had a few days off home.

“I don’t really know exactly what happened. Maybe mentally I was a little bit stressed, and I lost energy.

“As I said, day by day and when I had to start the tournament, I was down. But now it’s good and I don’t want to think about that anymore.”

Simona Halep recalled how a tough start to the season really got to her, citing a specific match she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in Adelaide as a low point.

“I got a little bit down with my head after that loss,” Halap explained.

“I felt tired when I came here, I don’t know why. Maybe because I stress myself too much, and I just lost the energy.

“But then after the first match (at Australian Open) I got the energy back and I felt like my game is going at the higher level. I feel good.”

Watch the Australian Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player

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