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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, March 22, 2018

 
Simona Halep

Simona Halep battled back from a break down in the final set winning three straight games for a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, triumph over Océane Dodin.

Photo credit: Dan Huerlimann/Beelde Images

Simona Halep seemed to toss in the towel dropping nine games in a row in her Indian Wells' semifinal loss to Naomi Osaka.

Today, a stubborn Halep climbed off the canvas with a rousing comeback in Miami.

Watch: Miami Live Blog

The world No. 1 rallied from 2-4 down the decider reeling off the final three games to subdue a spirited lucky loser Océane Dodin, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

"I played bad, but, you know, you have these days, and when you don't give up, is the most important thing," Halep said. "I think that's why I won today, because I didn't give up. I didn't play well, but, you know, in the end, if you win it, you take only the positives."

The comeback propelled Halep into a round of 32 clash with 2012 Miami Open champion Agnieszka Radwanska.

"It's always tough to play against her, because she's very intelligent," Halep said of Radwanska. "She's playing soft so is not going to be like today. But she's very smart on court, and I have to be more aggressive than today. I have to take the ball faster.

"We will see how is gonna be, but definitely it's gonna be a tough match. So I'm ready for it. I'm ready to run. I'm here just to try to play better and better day by day."




The 30th-seeded Radwanska repelled AlisonVan Uytvanck, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

The top-seeded Halep, who will retain the world No. 1 ranking regadless of her results in Miami, dropped two straight games to start today's match.

Belting deep groundstrokes with hearty ambition, the 98th-ranked Dodin powered through the opening set.

Smacking a forehand swing volley for a fourth set point, the Frenchwoman attacked net drawing a netted pass to seize a one-set lead.

During the game, Halep, who was clutching the right side of her neck, asked for the trainer and took a medical time-out after the opening set. Halep broke for a 2-0 second-set lead and appeared to be settling into a groove only to donate the break back at love and take another medical timeout after the third game.

Holding serve became a rarity as they traded breaks again in the sixth and seventh games.

Dodin struggled through a two double fault game gifting the seventh break of the match and a 5-3 lead to the Romanian. Halep slid her second ace for match point then slashed a second ace down the T forcing the decider after 72 minutes.

Serving at 1-2 Halep missed a forehand and spike her Wilson to the court incurring a racquet abuse violation warning to face break point. A sharp-angled backhand crosscourt erased the break point.

A Halep double fault face brought up break point. Dodin drilled a backhand return winner down the line breaking for 3-1 90 minutes into match.

The 20-year-old Frenchwoman saved three break points, including winning a frenetic net exchange with a forehand volley, to draw even at deuce.

A tremendous running rally ended with Halep hammering a forehand crosscourt and unleashing a screaming affirmation for a fourth break point. This time, the Romanian cranked a backhand strike down the line breaking back for 2-3.

Dodin double faulted for the first time in the final set giving Halep back the break in the seventh game.




Running rallies escalated and Halep rolled her ankle and fell down behind the baseline in the ninth game. Arising, the scrappy world No. 1 scrambled all over the court but Dodin had the answer driving a forehand winner for 40-15.

An exceptional running rally ended with Dodin missing a forehand and bending over to catch her breath. Jolting a forehand into the corner, she held for 5-4. That would be the last game Halep lost.

Serving at 5-all, Dodin confronted a break point. Bouncing on her toes, Halep slugged a forehand return winner off a second serve breaking for 6-5.

A fired-up Halep closed in style slashing successive aces to earn a gritty two hour, six minute victory.

 

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