(July 14, 2013) -- The impressive run of titles by Romania's
Simona Halep continues as she claimed her third event of the year at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.
Halep faced off against Austria's
Yvonne Meusburger who upset three seeded players en route to today's finals. But Halep was the heavy favorite and looked on course for an easy win after she wrapped up the first set 6-3.
Things got more complicated in the second set after Meusburger secured an early break of serve. Halep fought back to level the set at 2-all, but a rash of errors from Halep soon allowed Meusburger to serve for the set at 5-4.
Both players exchanged breaks of serve with Meusburger again serving for the set at 6-5. Halep broke again to force a tiebreak. With a streak of big winners, especially from her forehand wing, Halep soon found herself with three match points while up 6-3 in the breaker.
But Halep committed three groundstroke errors in a row to let Meusburger back in the tiebreak. The Austrian converted her first set point after Halep sent a forehand just long.
After taking a lengthy bathroom break, Halep composed herself and took control of the third set with an early break lead. Halep found the rhythm on her forehand side again as she knocked in winners to extend her lead to 5-1. Finally on her fourth match point, Halep achieved victory when Meusburger netted a forehand volley.
Halep sealed the 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-1 win and with it her third title out of her last four events. Now at a career high ranking of No. 30 in the world, she is projected to rise higher and become the new Romanian No. 1 player.