Halep vows to stay patient despite early exit in Hong Kong

Former world No 1 Simona Halep vowed to stay patient as she looks to regain former glories despite an early exit from the Hong Kong Open on Monday.

The two-time Grand Slam champion, playing her first WTA event since her four-year ban for failing a drugs test was reduced to nine months, lost 6-3, 6-3 to Yuan Yue of China in round one.

But the 33-year-old Halep said she will try not to be too hard on herself as she tries to climb back from her current ranking of 883 to somewhere near the top.

“My level was not bad at all but the opponent played really well and had confidence,” Halep said, quoted by the BBC.

“I’m not happy with the way I played but it was much better than the previous match (at a Challenger event).”

Halep is not sure where she will play next but knows she needs not to get too frustrated if things don’t go her way immediately.

“It depends on the wildcards (where she plays next), but I just want to work harder because I need a stronger body to perform at this level,” she said. “I will take it slow. I have to give myself patience and try to get better day by day.”

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