Former No. 1 Simona Halep pounded fourth seed Paula Badosa 6-1, 6-2 on Monday, taking an hour to dismiss the Spaniard and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The Romanian who won the title here in 2019 and had to withdraw before the start last year with injury, was back on the grass for the first time since lifting that trophy.
Badosa was playing a former Wimbledon winner for the second straight match after putting out double champion Petra Kvitova in the previous round.
Halep will face American Amanda Anisiova, who beat France’s Harmony Tan 6-2, 6-3 and who now stands 29-9 on the season.Halep advanced with 17 winners to just seven for Badosa, who committed 21 unforced errors.
“It was a pleasure to play her today,” the Romanian who has not lost a set at this edition said. “I was nervous before the match, but I enjoyed being back on Centre Court so much.
“I’m really pleased with how I’m playing, every day I’m getting better. I’m looking forward to playing the next round and giving my best again.”
Anisimova ended the dream run of Tan, who shocked Serena Williams in the first round and went on to defeat Brit Katie Boulter.
Alize Cornet, who knocked out top seed Iga Swiatek in the previous round. was denied 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 by Australian Ajla Tomljanovic,who next plays Elena Rybakina.
The Moscow-born Russian who switched several seasons ago to Kazakhstan, booked her last-eight spot 7-5, 6-3 over Croat Petra Martic.
Cornet saved two match points with both players run ragged in an exhausting point which produced a third match point but left both breathless.
Tomljanovic finished off the victory seconds later with a cross-court pass.
She backed up her quarter-final here a year ago where she lost to compatriot and top seed Ash Barty..
The Aussie woman to achieve back-to-back quarters was Jelena Dokic in 1999-2000.
“I didn’t think I could do it,” the emotional winner said after beating Cornet. “I had such memories from last year – she won just four games.
“Looking back, I did not enjoy it as much as I should have. I didn’t know if I would get the chance again. But a year later I’m in the same position.”
Main photo:- Simona Halep beating Paola Badosa today by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
