• The Guardian Tuesday 8 January 2019 Tuesday 8 January 2019 The Guardian • 36 Sport 37 Australian Open countdown ▼ Simona Halep strains to Tennis Portrait by overcome Sloane Stephens Matei Buta in her ! rst grand slam win for the Guardian CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/GETTY fi nal. I gave everything. But there was no more energy at the end. Konta pulls out “After the fi nal, we fi nished with ‘My dream was to the press around 10pm and they took in Sydney for me to doping control. At 2am I left because I couldn’t [produce a urine sample] as I was dehydrated. They second time in be the best. I did took my blood . At the hotel I started shaking and they got me to hospital. two days My mother was worried and said if she was in my place she would stop and just enjoy life. It was really bad Johanna Konta’s troublesome start to everything for tennis’ for three months. I was exhausted the new year took another turn for the and couldn’t recover totally. But I am worse yesterday when, a week before proud I played at my limit.” the Australian Open, she pulled out of Just over four months later, the Sydney International for a second in Paris, she was tested mentally time in two days . The big interview spent her fi rst Christmas at home rather than just physically . A fourth The British No 1 was scheduled to in 10 years. successive defeat in a major fi nal play Kiki Bertens as a lucky loser in Simona Halep “I dedicated myself 100%, so would have felt ruinous – especially ‘Everything I the fi rst round after having retired The world No 1 on many years,” Halep says. “Now as Halep had lost the French Open from her second-round qualifying I’ve won a grand slam and I start to the previous year when a set and Can she succeed without a coach? match with a neck injury on Sunday, beating shyness and enjoy life more. I like to go out, make 3-0 up in the fi nal against Jelena dreamed was “No, I need to fi nd a coach. At this before news of her withdrawal was physical trauma to get friendships. I’m more open. Before I Ostapenko. “I have the courage to level it is impossible to go alone.” announced. No reason has yet been won the French I was very focused. ” say I lost that fi nal,” she says. “She real. Maybe it Will she and Cahill be reunited? given for the decision . to the top – and how her Halep now appears the opposite won it in the end because she was “I don’t know. I can say I hope so Konta was a quarter-fi nalist at the French Open win eased of a one-dimensional obsessive. great and when you are young you will be my best because he’s a great person and that 2017 Australian Open after having Instead, as she re$ ects on the just play. I lost it because I couldn’t matters the most.” reached the semi-fi nal a year earlier , an exhausting burden dedication needed to reach her handle the emotions. For the next moment as Halep is as brave as she is honest but was knocked out in the second goals, she talks expansively about three months, I cannot use the word and, in addressing all she gave up round in 2018. She swapped coaches in physical trauma, psychological ‘depressed’ because it’s too much , an athlete. for tennis, she explains how she October when she ditched the Ameri- barriers, the role of her former coach but I was sad for a long time.” chose to undergo breast reduction can Michael Joyce after less than a full Donald McRae Darren Cahill and the sweetness of In the 2018 French Open fi nal , surgery when she was 18. Did season and in came the Frenchman ButBut let’slet’s see’see’ ff Sports feature victory. Halep was a set and 2-0 down to an she feel scared? “No,” she says. Dimitri Zavialo . “We’d kind of come Cahill will spend most of this inspired Sloane Stephens. “I didn’t “My family was scared. I was not to the end of our road,” said Konta writer of the yearr year with his family in Australia expect her to play so well on clay scared because I knew I have to do recently. and so Halep is currently without a so I thought everything will be lost it for tennis. My dream was just to Meanwhile, q ualifier Heather verything I did in life, coach. This unusual situation adds again,” she says. “I said I have to try be the best. So I was laughing when Watson made a swift exit from the until now, was just to the fascination as to whether, something so I was more aggressive. I went to the doctor. Afterwards, Hobart International after suff ering a for tennis. Nothing while returning from a back I went to the net three times in I was so much lighter and all my back fi rst-round defeat by Romania’s Irina- else mattered. That’s injury and exhaustion after her one game, which I never do. I won problems were gone. So it was the Camelia Begu. Watson, who fought why it became too momentous 2018, she can become the game and I had the confi dence best decision. I was dedicated 100% her way past the Australian Isabelle much, maybe. That’s an even better player. because I thought about the year and did everything for tennis.” Wallace to claim a place in the main ‘why E I suff ered,” Simona Halep says “I have the experience and that’s before when I was leading and lost it. Her rise is remarkable because, draw, went down 6-1, 6-4. The Briton intently on a mid winter afternoon why I decided to be alone for four I really believed then.” apart from her background giving lost six games on the trot as the fi rst in Bucharest. We sit in a corner of months without a coach. I want to Halep’s face lights up as she her few advantages, Halep’s set slipped away and although she a restaurant where the clinking of feel relaxed. I had a lot of pressure remembers how 20 years of grinding character was perhaps not one of a made a better fi st of the second, she cutlery provides a refi ned backdrop [last] year, from Romania, from work had fi nally given her the typical sportsperson. “Sometimes was unable to drag herself back into to the raw immediacy of a rare the people around me, because ultimate happiness she craved on I was crying that I don’t want to the match. interview with the world No 1. everyone was talking about the court. “Everything I had dreamed go on the court because I was Konta and Watson have been There is snow on the ground grand slam title. It’s just a sport but was real in that moment. All the Savouring her Paris too shy,” she says. “I was very selected along with Katie Swan, Katie outside but only warmth from for me it was everything. That’s why people I love were there and when victory last June introverted. I am still an introvert.” Boulter and debutant Harriet Dart for Halep. Beyond her burning intensity I suff ered a little.” I lift the trophy, and the national Halep smiles when I say she the Fed Cup tie at Bath in February she smiles with relief. “There is Halep’s psychological resolve song is played, it was the best has been confi dent and revealing when Great Britain will be hosts for no pressure now. I feel lighter. has been tested but at last year’s moment I ever had. I was crying in this interview. “I am open the fi rst time in more than 25 years. I feel better. I wouldn’t have been Australian Open she was subjected because it was huge. Maybe it will now. I improved a lot and I can “I’m delighted to name our this relaxed if I hadn’t won the to a physical battering that meant be my best moment as an athlete. be more natural.” strongest possible team,” said the cap- French Open . A big weight is off she was taken to hospital after her But let’s see. Maybe the future will She has begun to support young tain, Anne Keothavong. “It won’t be my shoulders.” draining three-set defeat in the give me even more.” Romanian players hoping to make easy, that’s for sure, but it’s a challenge The 27-year-old has avoided fi nal against Caroline Wozniacki . it on the pro circuit. “I received a we relish and hope to give the home opening up before because, apart The entire tournament had been an hat future is made lot from tennis so it’s good to help crowd something to cheer about.” from her shy and private nature, ordeal. “I have never played such intriguing by Halep’s others because it’s very di3 cult. Great Britain are one of eight teams she was consumed by a fi xation a tough tournament and I hope I decision not to replace Many talented kids get lost because taking part in the Europe/Africa Group that was fi nally quenched in Paris will not have to again,” she says.