(CNN)For someone who says she usually sleeps by 10 p.m., Simona Halep pushed her bedtime past in tennis’ off-season.
The Romanian threw a private party for 110 family and friends at a restaurant in Bucharest to celebrate her long-awaited first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June and partied into the early hours.
“I actually partied until 5 a.m. for the first time in my life,” Halep told CNN by phone ahead of the Australian Open.
Her time away from the tennis court was not limited to that one evening in the Romanian capital, where the world No. 1 has an apartment.
“I spent a lot of time in the city, which I don’t do often,” Halep said. “I lived a normal life, which I really enjoyed. I met new people, stayed with friends.”
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Separation from coach
But Halep hasn’t quite been able to bask in the glory of becoming her tennis-mad country’s first Grand Slam champion since her manager Virginia Ruzici at Roland Garros 40 years ago.
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The extra time off came as the 27-year-old was recovering from a herniated disc. Indeed, like fellow players Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, Halep was forced to abandon her 2018 campaign due to injury.
And in another, perhaps bigger blow, their influential coach Darren Cahill initiated a split because he wanted to spend more time with his family.
‘No expectations’
“It was a bit tougher,” admitted Halep, referring to the off-season.
No wonder, then, that Halep didn’t sound as confident as he did 12 months ago as he competes in the Australian Open, which begins on Monday. She is still waiting for a first win since August after being defeated 6-4, 6-4 by Ashleigh Barty in her 2019 opener in Sydney on Wednesday.
And in the first round at the Australian Open, Halep will face the player she beat in the first round at the US Open, Kaia Kanepi.
“I don’t have any expectations so I’m coming different than last year but I’m still motivated to do my best every time I go on the pitch and I believe I have a chance to get a good result but We’ll see,” he said Halep speaks against Barty ahead of their outing. “It’s really hard to talk about this long time that I’ve had to rest.”
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Boris Becker?
During her three-and-a-half-year partnership with Cahill, Halep said she hoped the well-regarded Australian – a former coach of Hall of Famers Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt – would remain in her corner until retirement.
They remain friends and Halep said he gave her advice during the off-season.
As Cahill continues to work as an analyst for ESPN TV at the Australian Open, who knows, he could give Halep more clues.
At least until the clay court swing in April, she wants to fly mostly solo.
“I need a coach. But right now I’m just saying that I want to take responsibility and see how it will be in the next three, four months,” said Halep.
According to Halep, there were “many” who expressed interest in succeeding Cahill. However, the Constanta native denied reports that one of them was Novak Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker.
“He came to Bucharest for a different reason and I was happy to see him, but we never talked about being together as a coach and a player,” said Halep.
When Halep speaks of a “tough, emotional year”, Kanepi’s departure and her stay at the Australian Open are also the final numbers.
homecoming crowds
Halep had to be hospitalized after suffering from dehydration in the thrilling Australian Open final where she guided Caroline Wozniacki through a break deep in the third set before losing 2-1.
Previously, the Romanian twisted her ankle in the first round and appeared in marathon encounters against Lauren Davis in the third round and Angelique Kerber in the semifinals when a total of five match points were saved en route to victory.
Her way to the French Open final was easier, only giving up one set.
Once there, however, Halep was a set and break behind 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens. Just when it looked like Halep was about to lose a fourth Grand Slam final, she turned the tables.
About 20,000 fans greeted Halep at Romania’s national football stadium as she returned home, a smaller replica French Open trophy in tow.
She keeps the cutlery at home, but may give it to her parents, Stere and Tania, when their playing days are over. Halep said she gets in touch with her parents every day when she is away without them. SMS, she says, is her preferred means of communication.
“They are good people with good hearts, and my mother is a bit shy, just like me,” Halep said. “My dad is different so they complement each other and I think I picked up more of my mom’s character and my dad’s body and[tendency]to exercise.”
‘Hug it’
Already a likeable character prior to the success of the French Open – she’s been voted a WTA fan favorite for the past two seasons – her popularity has continued to grow. In Romania, Halep was the most Googled person last year.
Being a street recognized superstar is still something she has to come to terms with.
“If you’re successful, you also have to pay for some things, so it’s great that I have to pay for that,” she said, laughing. “It’s not that convenient or that easy, but it’s the best thing that could happen to me, so I’m trying to embrace it, accept it, and enjoy it.”
Halep certainly enjoyed this party and will hope to enjoy what’s happening on the pitch as well.
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