Simona Halep fought her way back from 4-1 down in the first set against Zhang Shuai to book a return to the Wimbledon semi-finals.
The Romanian – a former world No. 1 – was in trouble early on against the tricky Chinese but after squeezing through a first-set tiebreak she stormed into the final four at the All England Club with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 win.
Halep’s last run to the semis in SW19 came five years ago when she was defeated by Canadian youngster Eugenie Bouchard but she will sense a real opportunity to go one step further this time around when she takes on either eighth seed Elina Svitolina or unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova.
The 2018 French Open champion has never rated grass as her favourite surface but she has looked steady on her way to the latter stages of the competition and was composure personified as she clawed her way back into the first set.
‘I fought hard in the first set even though I was down 4-1,’ Halep told the BBC after her win over Zhang. ‘I knew she was going to hit all the balls and hit with a lot of power.
‘I played a few times against her and it was a little bit tough for me but today I knew I had to be strong, to play aggressive as much as possible and I did it great.’
Halep has dropped just one set despite facing some testing opposition – including two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka and 15-year-old American sensation Cori Gauff – and warned her rivals that she has plenty left in the tank ahead of the final two rounds.
‘I have energy,’ Halep added. ‘I feel fresh, I feel healthy, I feel confident when I step on the court so I’m playing some of my best tennis on a grass court, so I’m just trying to enjoy the moment and to be my best version every time I step on the court.’
