Women’s Storylines of the US Open Series

Will Simona rise from her slump?

Aug 31, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Simona Halep (ROU) returns a shot to Maria Kirilenko (RUS) on Armstrong Stadium on day six of the 2013 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

It may be hard to remember that Simona Halep leads the WTA tour in hard court match wins this year, with an astounding 24-3 record. In her first five tournaments of 2015, the Romanian emerged victorious in Shenzhen, Indian Wells, and Dubai, while falling to Serena in Miami, and Makarova in Melbourne.

And then, the European clay court season rolled around.

It’s hard to pinpoint whether it was the pressure of matching her exceptional 2014 performances on clay that led to the slump that she is experiencing. Or perhaps it’s the result of Halep adopting a more aggressive game style that really doesn’t come naturally to her. Regardless, Halep’s results of late, including her early losses at the French and Wimbledon, have been worrying.

And as she returns to the hard courts that served her so well at the beginning of the year, many fans will be wondering whether Halep can return to top form before the final slam of the year.

Aided by an extended holiday (including some yoga and a trip to Singapore), and the fact that she has few points to defend until the WTA Finals, Halep may yet be able to put her 2015 campaign back on track and compete for a finals appearance in New York.

Next: Aga Back on Top?