Bacsinszky Blitzes Past Halep

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MIAMI, FL, USA – No.19 seed Timea Bacsinszky roared into the final four of the Miami Open for the first time in her career with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over No.5 seed Simona Halep.

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Bacsinszky had to battle from behind after dropping the opening set and was undaunted by a gloomy forecast – one that even briefly halted proceedings right when the 2015 French Open semifinalist began to find her rhythm. 

“I came back from a long road,” she told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “The first set was really tough. She’s an awesome player and a great fighter.

“For the last year, she has also been an inspiration for me because I believe in hard work and she’s one of the players who work really hard, so to be able to play that well against her and to catch the win is really amazing.

“I’m really happy with the win.”

Using her backhand with deadly accuracy, Bacsinszky rolled through the first four games of the final set, eventually serving out the upset with her 20th winner of the match. Watching from the stands was friend and top skiier Lara Gut, who extended her vacation to continue playing “good luck charm” and watch her countrywoman win another day.

“She’s still here! The Swiss are super happy about it; it was even in the news,” she said, then addressing Gut, “Thanks so much for your support; you’re also a huge inspiration for me.”

Narrowly missing out on the chance to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, Bacsinszky had just cracked the Top 10 for the first time in her career when a knee injury suffered in Luxembourg and an viral illness after Fed Cup disrupted her start to 2016.

Now back to playing some of her best tennis, she heads into her first Miami Open semifinal with wins over Ana Ivanovic, Agnieszka Radwanska – her first career Top 3 win – and Halep, with the winner of No.15 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and No.30 seed Ekaterina Makarova waiting in the other quarterfinal.

For a young woman who had once left the sport to pursue a career in hotel management, Bacsinszky takes her continued success in stride, even courting support from Halep’s disappointed fans.

“I know there are a lot of Romanians; I know a few words because my grandparents are from Satu Mare, so I’ll just say mulțumesc [thank you] and see you next time!”

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