Romanian star Simona Halep ended 2015 as the number 2 player in the WTA ranking of the best women's tennis players in the world, her best result so far. And this is not her only achievement this year: she also won the biggest title of her career at Indian Wells, and she played the first US open semifinal.

Although 2015 was a good year for Halep, better than the previous one, she hopes for even bigger things in 2016. The Romanian player says she learned many things in 2015, things that have helped her be more relaxed and improved her game.

“I’ve learned how to play without pressure when I have to defend something, to defend points or the title. And I learned that if I'm relaxed and if I’m enjoying what I'm doing, it helps me concentrate better and I can win tough matches. Last year I played well, but this year I made a lot of improvements in my game, and in my life also,” she said, cited by Wtatennis.com.

Simona Halep says that, although she has had ups and downs, she is trying to stay focus on what she has to do, and she wants to put all her power into the game.

“I try not to think about what people are saying about my results or my tennis,” she added. "I know Romanians want me to win every match, and it's fine - I do everything I can to win them."

Next year, Halep wants to improve her game and be even stronger.

“I have many things to improve in my game. Right now I am pretty solid and confident in my game, but I want to improve more when I go into the court - I have to improve my net game. And my serve, too, but I've improved that a little bit already. And when I go from offense to defense, and the other way.”

Australian Darren Cahill will be Halep’s personal coach in 2016. 

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com