At the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125 on Wednesday, former World No 1 Simona Halep won her first match since August 2022 when she defeated Arina Rodionova, 6-2 4-6 6-4, on her return to match play for the first time since June earlier this year.
Halep, a former double Grand Slam champion at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, was defeated by the Spain’s Paula Badosa, 1-6 6-4 6-3, in March, in the 1st-round of the WTA 1000 in Miami on her return to the women’s tour after her doping ban was reduced from 4 years to 9 months.
The 33-year old battled through fatigue against Rodionova, the former Aussie No 1, in what was a tough opener, having accepted a wild-card to compete late in the day last week.
Due to return at the WTA 250 Hong Kong Open from 28 October to 3 November, the Romanian opted to also play the 125 in her first outing since the Tropheé Clarins in Paris, after failing to secure a Roland Garros wild-card, but she was injured early in her match against American McCartney Kessler, and had to retire.
Halep started with a break, and dominated the first set, before her level dipped and Rodionova broke to lead 3-0 and 4-1 in the second.
Although the Romanian fought back to level at 4-4, she lost the set, and had to play a decider.
It was close duel throughout, although Halep started with a break in the third, but Rodionova levelled before the Romanian managed to break again at 3-3, only to immediately lose her own serve.
Halep orchestrated yet another break at 4-4, and then, leading 5-4, held her own delivery to move on to round 2.
This was the first meeting between Halep, currently ranked 1,130 in the world, and 34-year old Rodionova, who is at No 114.
Halep sealed her win with 6 aces, 62% of her first serve points won, and a pretty good clearance rate when it came to break points, winning 6 out of 11 chances.
It was a good first win for Halep, who had to fight over 2 hours and 8 minutes to prevail, and she could yet face top-seeded American Emma Navarro in the 3rd-round if she next can get past another tough test in Anna Blinkova, the 7th seed from Russia, who advanced with a 6-1 6-2 win over qualifier Peangtarn Plipuech from Thailand on Monday.
Navarro is the World No 8, and she came through her tough opener against Viktorija Golubic from Switzerland, 7-5 6-4, needing an hour and 28 minutes to advance to meet Australia’s Kimberley Birrell, a 6-2 6-0, winner over Chinese qualifier Yang Yidi.
World No 8 Emma Navarro advanced with a straight sets win against Viktorija Golubic in Hong Kong
Facebook/Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125
