Simona Halep wins in Montreal, beating Sloane Stephens

MONTREAL – Top-ranked Simona Halep outlasted third-ranked Sloane Stephens 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4 on Sunday to win her second Rogers Cup title.

The 26-year-old Romanian star also won the hard-court event that rotates between Toronto and Montreal in 2016 in Montreal.

In a rematch of Halep’s French Open final victory, she overcame Stephens in the match that had 15 service breaks. Halep has won her last six meetings with the 25-year-old American. Stephens, preparing for her U.S. Open title defense, is 0-8 against No. 1-ranked players.

“I couldn’t believe that it’s over,” Halep said. “I was really tired. I feel like these tournaments, at this level, you have to have one day off between the matches. It’s really tough. It’s brutal. This week it was really tough.”

Halep won her third title of the year and 18th overall.

“Both matches were crazy good,” Halep said about the French and Rogers finals. “She makes me play better and better every time we meet each other. That’s a great thing for me. I feel like she improved in her mental (side) also. She doesn’t give up that much now. Of course, she’s a strong player. I think she’s a complex player. She has everything.”