Coach Darren Cahill revealed Simona Halep suffered greatly and even felt “miserable” following a heartbreaking 2017 French Open final defeat and also shared that it took him time before realizing how to help the Romanian.
For years, the Romanian was one of the best players in the world but a maiden Grand Slam title just wasn’t happening for her.
After falling short to Maria Sharapova in a tight three-set 2014 French Open final, she made her second Major at the same venue three years later.
This time, Halep had a set in her pocket – was up by a break in the second set – and she appeared to be cruising toward accomplishing her dream of becoming a Slam winner.
But then, she failed to close out the final as Ostapenko completed a stunning 4-6 6-4 6-3 comeback.
Following the defeat, the former world No. 1 was absolutely heartbroken and devastated.
Cahill noticed it instantly and he thought that him remaining positive would help.
“I was showing no empathy. I wasn’t suffering with her. I was suffering, but I wasn’t showing it,” the Australian coach told Caroline Garcia during their conversation on the Tennis Insider Club.
“I was positive. And she wanted me to be miserable like she was. But it is true because misery loves misery in the tough moments. And all she wanted to see from me was that I was feeling as bad as she was.”
Cahill realized that being positive wasn’t the attitude that would work
After one of the other Halep team members told the Australian coach that he should change his approach, he listened to it.
And that was the game-changer.
“I walked over to her the next day, I said it’s all on me, the last eight weeks is on me,” the 59-year-old revealed.
“I made some mistakes – tried to be positive and whatnot but I know you’re suffering. And I started having tears, she was crying, I hugged her and she goes ‘I’ve been waiting for this hug for three months!'”
While Halep lost the 2018 Australian Open final to Caroline Wozniacki, she still finished with two Grand Slam titles after winning the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon.
Last month, she retired from tennis at 33 due to a major knee injury.
