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APIA INTERNATIONAL SYDNEY


January 13, 2015


Simona Halep


SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

THE MODERATOR:  Simona is going to withdraw with a gastrointestinal illness.  Very much looking forward seeing you here, but understand these things do happen.  We wish you the best of a speedy recovery for the Australian Open.
SIMONA HALEP:  Thank you.
THE MODERATOR:  We hope to see you back here next year.

Q.  Did it come on in China, or...
SIMONA HALEP:  Yeah, during the tournament in China I got this problem with my stomach.  I feel like I cannot play.  I was waiting till today to see if I'm ready or not, but I really cannot play.
So it's tough to start the tournament, and I decided to retire because I think it's the best way.

Q.  Better to have this illness this week than next week?
SIMONA HALEP:  Yeah.  I hope to have ‑‑ what did you say?

Q.  I guess the positive is you're sick this week and not next week.
SIMONA HALEP:  A, yes, sure, because it's a Grand Slam.  But I feel sad now because I cannot play this tournament.  I came here to play all the tournaments so it's not good to stop.
I have to recover first myself and then to think about tennis.

Q.  How many days have you been ill?
SIMONA HALEP:  Few days already.

Q.  Are you happy otherwise with your preparation going into Melbourne?
SIMONA HALEP:  I didn't play for three days already, so, yeah, I had a good start in China.  I played well match by match, and I feel prepared to start the Grand Slam.
But still first I am thinking to be ready to be recovered of myself, to feel better with my stomach, and then I have time to think about matches from Melbourne.

Q.  What does the doctor say about how long it will take?
SIMONA HALEP:  You never know with the stomach because it's something inside.  I hope that two, three days more and then I will be ready to play again.

Q.  I imagine take a lot of confidence out of last year?
SIMONA HALEP:  Yeah, I am confident now after also China, because I won few matches there and it was a good start.
Last year I did some good results, but now it's another year, another start.  So I have to be confident and to believe that I can do many more results.
But every match will be tough, and also the pressure will come.

Q.  How was your off‑season?
SIMONA HALEP:  Very good.  I was home.  Yeah, I stay with my family.  I had Christmas at home.
So I was working very hard also with my fitness coach and with my coach.  So everything went well.  You know, I feel happy with my game now.

Q.  Were you working on any particular part of your game?
SIMONA HALEP:  Yeah.  I can say that I worked with my serve and I was improving a lot.  I saw first week in Shenzhen that I served better than last year.  I was working on my body also to be stronger.
Yeah, it was a complete work, like everything I worked.  Yeah.

Q.  Were you ill during the final in Shenzhen?
SIMONA HALEP:  Yeah, I was a little bit sick before.

Q.  How difficult was it to get through that match?
SIMONA HALEP:  I don't know how I played, to be honest.  It was like I think adrenaline and I just wanted to win the tournament.
I didn't think about myself too much, just to play that match.  I did it very well.

Q.  I imagine you were dehydrated, because that's part of gastroenteritis.
SIMONA HALEP:  Yeah, I am.

Q.  Were you feeling dizzy on court?
SIMONA HALEP:  I feel like I cannot play at this moment, so I have to rest.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports




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