Simona Halep ‘stronger mentally’ in quest for maiden Grand Slam

World number one Simona Halep claims she is “stronger mentally” as she looks to go one better than last year at the French Open and claim her maiden grand slam title. The Romanian lost in last year's final in Paris, at the time her second title-deciding defeat after also coming close at Roland Garros three years earlier. She subsequently came out on the wrong side of a tough three-setter against Caroline Wozniacki in the Australian Open final at the start of 2018 but Halep insists she is in a positive frame of mind as she looks to cement her place at the top of the women's game. Asked to assess her outlook heading into the season's second major, she told reporters: “I think I'm a better player if we compare it to last year. I'm stronger mentally. I think I have worked a lot and improved. I just want to focus on what I have to do to get better and better. This year I come with this pressure but I don't want to focus on that,” she added. “Of course I have more confidence this year because last year I had a great result. But that doesn't mean this year is going to be the same (Video credit: Perform).”