⁍ Simona Halep beat Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4 6-0 in the first round of the French Open.

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⁍ Halep had to stay in her hotel room in Paris on her 29th birthday due to COVID-19 protocols.

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⁍ The Romanian has won her last three tournaments and could wrest back the world number one ranking from Australian Ash Barty.

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– Top-seeded Simona Halep had to stay in her hotel room in Paris on her 29th birthday drinking a celebratory bottle of water due to COVID-19 protocols but the Romanian was pleased to earlier have gifted herself the “perfect present” at the French Open on Sunday. Playing the first women’s match under the newly-built roof at the Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, the top-seeded Halep overcame an early challenge from Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo to sail into the second round with a 6-4 6-0 victory, reports Reuters. Halep had found herself trailing 4-2 against an opponent she had never faced before figuring out her opponent and not losing another game. “The perfect present was that I won today,’ Halep, who won her first Grand Slam at the 2018 French Open, told reporters. “It was really a special day playing at Roland Garros on my birthday. So it’s going to be pretty unique maybe forever. I cannot celebrate much, because I have to stay in the room, so I will have a bottle of water. “Yeah, just enjoying the time. I will speak with my very close ones and loved ones. Just that. Nothing special. After the tournament, I will.’