Simona Halep finished a third straight season as a Top 5 player, and credits some of her game’s biggest improvements to work done with coach Darren Cahill.

“I am more aggressive, but not crazy aggressive,” the Romanian told Forbes’ Danielle Rossingh during the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open. “More smart aggressive because I cannot stay all the time close to the baseline. I have to go out and back and come in many times.

“I think I improved in myself, my forehand is stronger. We worked on every shot and I think all my game is better now.”

Halep believes another key improvement has come on serve, specifically her ball toss.

“He told me to change it, to toss it lower, and I think it helps me. I feel like the timing is better.”

The results began to come in streams by spring, when she won her second Premier Mandatory title at the Mutua Madrid Open, owned by countryman and Romanian tennis legend Ion Tiriac.

15-Love: Try saying “foot fault” 5x fast. @Simona_Halep was more than up for the challenge in our super-sonic Q&A challenge. #USOpen #Halep pic.twitter.com/YEYKc9OKFB

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) December 5, 2016

“He helps me with advice, he talks with me,” she said. Tiriac gave her a wildcard into Madrid back in 2013, a move Halep says kickstarted her pro career.

“He’s into my tennis and always we have a good discussion, sometimes he’s coming to my practices.”

A lot of his advice centers around Halep’s ultimate goal of Grand Slam glory; the former World No.2 reached the French Open final in 2014, and will aim to take that career-best major finish one step further in 2017.

“He tells me that I have everything to win a Grand Slam, I have just to believe. It’s good to have such an important man in my life and in my career.”

Click here to read the full interview with Halep as she discusses her celebrity status in Romania and the rise of Year-End No.1 Angelique Kerber.