Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Simona Halep came out firing in her opener at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, getting swift revenge against her US Open conqueror, Flavia Pennetta.

Halep, who had lost four of five previous meetings with Pennetta – including a 59-minute stunner in the semifinals in Flushing Meadows – turned it around completely in Singapore on Sunday afternoon, racing through the first set at love in just 25 minutes and, after staying on serve through the first seven games of the second set, getting one last break of serve for 5-3 before serving the match out.

The No.1-seeded Halep closed out the No.7-seeded Pennetta in an hour and 10 minutes, 6-0, 6-3.

“I started the match really well. I played my best in the first set, fast, smart and aggressive,” Halep said in her on-court interview. “I was really enjoying the match today. I was really happy to be back here.

“It became a tough match, though. Every match here is like the final of a Grand Slam – I played the semifinals with Flavia in the US Open. I knew she’d play better and the second set was much tougher.”

It was Halep’s first match since retiring first round at the China Open in Beijing two weeks ago.

“I was injured a little bit in China, my Achilles, but now I’m feeling good,” Halep commented. “I had treatment and a break before coming here, and now I’m playing without pain, so that’s good. I’m just hoping to be okay during the matches, though, because I didn’t play official matches until now.”

The World No.2 is thrilled to be back at the WTA Finals – she was a runner-up in Singapore last year, beating Serena Williams in the round robin before the World No.1 pegged her back in the final.

“It’s different coming back this year, because it’s the second time and I have experience now,” Halep said during her All Access Hour interviews. “Last year I was very excited to be here for the first time and I played my best every match, just trying to enjoy the tournament and be confident in myself.

“I’m coming back here with the confidence to do some good results again, but I know it’s going to be difficult, so I just want to enjoy myself like last year, and try to do my best like I did last year.”

Source: WTA

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.