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Simona Halep Survives Battle against Sloane Stephens for Second Rogers Cup Crown

(August 12, 2018) In a rematch of the Roland Garros final, provided the same outcome with No. 1 Simona Halep out-rallied No. 3 Sloane Stephens 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4 on Sunday to win the  Rogers Cup title in Montreal.

It’s Halep’s second Rogers Cup title, she also won it two years ago. It’s her third trophy of the year and 18th of her career.

The Romanian has now won six straight matches over the American. There were 15 breaks of serve in the more than two-and-a-half-hour match.

“I couldn’t believe that it’s over,” said Halep about serving an ace on match point and falling to her knees in celebration. “This week, it’s been an amazing effort. Also I was really tired. I feel like these tournaments, and this level, you have to have actually one day off between the matches. It’s really tough. It’s brutal, the effort for me. This week it was really tough.”

“I thought I played well,” said Stephens. “I thought she played well. Obviously in a final, you hope for matches like that, super competitive, high energy. I mean, there’s nothing more than you could hope for in a final.

“Obviously upsetting that I didn’t win. But I think I got better today. I got better than the last final we played. Yeah, it’s disappointing, but I think this will help me moving forward, getting ready to go into Cincy and the US Open.

“Just going to kind of take it all in, realize I did a good job this week, and I can be proud of myself for that.”

Halep was asked about comparing Stephens play on Sunday to the French Open final. Halep said: “Both matches were crazy good. She makes me play better and better every time we meet each other. That’s a great thing for me.

“I feel like she him proved in her mental also. She doesn’t give up that much now. Of course, she’s a strong player. I think she’s a complex, if you say in English, complex player. She has everything.”

Just a year ago, Stephens was ranked 938 in the world returning to the tour after being sidelined by surgery. She went on to win the US Open.

Both women will be headed to Mason, Ohio to play in the Western & Southern Open.