Simona Halep wins Rogers Cup women’s single in straight sets
By howardcohen0
Global News
Posted July 31, 2016 2:45 pm EST
Updated July 31, 2016 7:43 pm EST
2 min read
This article is more than 7 years old and some information may not be up to date.
WATCH ABOVE: Romanian Simona Halep went head-to-head with American Madison Keys in the final round of Montreal's annual Rogers Cup Sunday afternoon. Many fans were hoping to see Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard in Sunday's final. Howard Cohen reports – Jul 31, 2016
Keys, seeded 10th at the tournament, is a rising star, but in the end Halep had the best of her, winning in two straight sets 7-6 (2), 6-3.
As the winner, Halep walks away with the $2.4 million grand prize and will jump to third in WTA rankings.
Halep said her fans made her feel at home and gave her the extra motivation she needed.
“With all the Romanians, I felt like at home,” Halep said. “Many people were coming every day. It was an amazing atmosphere down there. The man that announced us on the court said two words in Romanian, so that motivated me a lot. I said that now I have to win.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Rogers Cup women’s single final
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Simona Halep of Romania holds up the winner's trophy in front of her national flag after beating Madison Keys of the United States in the final at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, Sunday, July 31, 2016 in Montreal.
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Romania's Simona Halep celebrates her win over Madison Keys of the USA during women's final Rogers Cup tennis action in Montreal on Sunday, July 31, 2016.
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Madison Keys, left, of the United States congratulates Simona Halep of Romania for her win in the final at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, Sunday, July 31, 2016 in Montreal.
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Madison Keys of the USA plays a shot against Romania's Simona Halep during women's final Rogers Cup tennis action in Montreal on Sunday, July 31, 2016.
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Romania's Simona Halep hits a shot against Madison Keys of the USA during women's final Rogers Cup tennis action in Montreal on Sunday, July 31, 2016.
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Simona Halep of Romania holds up the winner's trophy in front of her national flag after beating Madison Keys of the United States in the final at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, Sunday, July 31, 2016 in Montreal.
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While the stadium was packed with tennis fans on Sunday, many of them told Global News that they’d been hoping Montreal native, Eugénie Bouchard, would have gone all the way this year.
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Fans gather in the stands ahead of Sunday’s final pitting Simona Halep against Madison Keys at Montreal’s Rogers Cup. Sunday, July 31, 2016.
Howard Cohen/Global News
Bouchard was knocked out in the third round of the tournament.