By Erik Gudris | Sunday, March 22, 2015

Simona Halep started slow but finished strong over Jelena Jankovic to claim her biggest career title at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.

The accomplishment was more meaningful for the Romanian star who admitted she did not play her best tennis during the match.

"First of all, I don't know how I won today because I didn't play my best. I didn't play like good tennis, but I just wanted to fight till the end because I think that is the most important thing for my style, for myself," Halep said during her press conference.

The match featured No. 3 seed Halep who was the highest remaining seed left against Jankovic who last won the same title five years ago. Halep led the overall head to head 3-1, yet all of their matches had gone three sets in the past.

Halep found herself battling from behind for most of the match. That was true right from the start as Jankovic broke Halep during a lengthy eight minute opening game.

As Jankovic looked more poised, Halep looked edgy and not sure of herself despite being the favorite. The result - Jankovic took the opening set 6-2.

Halep called a medical time out to deal with a left foot issue before the start of the second set. When play resumed, Halep still looked unsure of her game while Jankovic took the initiative. The former champion back in 2010 often turned offense into defense at key moments.

After breaking Halep's serve again, Jankovic served for the match up 5-4.

Yet the veteran Serbian felt the pressure of the moment. At 30-all, Halep struck a potent forehand that yielded her a break point. Soon, Halep found herself on level terms for 5-all.

Jankovic netted a shot while down set point a few games later. That gave Halep the second set 7-5 and with it new life.

In a match that featured several close line calls, linesmen correcting themselves, and a rowdy crowd often shouting "Simona!, Simona!" in favor of the Romanian, no one was quite sure what to expect in the final set.

Jankovic enjoyed getting the first break of the second set after a shot of hers clipped the net and rolled over as a winner. But that momentum would be short-lived. Errors from Jankovic would allow Halep back into the decisive set at 3-all.

Looking more confident than her opponent, Halep seized the initiative. Halep broke Jankovic for 5-3

Halep was unable to serve out the match, but Jankovic couldn't capitalize on her opponent's errors. Jankovic fell behind 0-40 in her next service game and with that Halep held multiple match points. Halep struck a potent forehand pass that Jankovic couldn't handle on the next point.

With that, Halep celebrated the hard-fought 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory.

Jankovic later reflected on her lost opportunity but also her successful two weeks.

"You know, like I was just overwhelmed, you know, and excited that I'm in the final and I put myself into a position to win. It's almost like a dream, you know, because I never thought I was going to be here in the beginning of the tournament."

"So it's been an amazing two weeks. Yes, of course I'm disappointed that I lost this final, because I really had a chance to win and hold that trophy. But I'm still proud of myself and my team how far I came. Yeah, how far I came into this tournament and what I have achieved."

"You know, you cannot play your best tennis and then you fight like I did today. So it's compensating. Sometimes you can fight till the end and sometimes you play good and you cannot fight," Halep said later. "This tournament gives me a lot of confidence that I can be there, I can win every tournament, so now I have more confidence that I can win a Grand Slam."

"But still I am very far, and I just want to keep this goal in my mind."
.