Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, currently number 3 in the world, became the player of the month in February, after polling on the WTA website.

Halep, who won the Dubai Premier 5 tournament, got 73% of the votes, outranking Lucie Safarova and Andrea Petkovic, the other two nominees.

The Romanian player also won the WTA Shot of the Month, for her cross-court backhand winner.

“Halep took top honors showing off her incredible court coverage and then crushing a cross-court backhand winner on the run against Daniela Hantuchova during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships,” according to WTA.

Romania's top tennis star beat Czech rising star Karolina Pliskova in the final in Dubai, in two sets, 6-4, 7-6.  She got USD 456,000 for her victory in the Premier 5 tournament.

The Romanian also won the Shenzhen Open at the beginning of January. However, at the Australian Open she was ousted in the quarterfinals.

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editor@romania-insider.com