Simona Halep believes she deserved the blunt criticism after coach Darren Cahill labelled the Wimbledon champion a "disgrace" during her WTA Finals defeat to Karolina Pliskova.
World number five Halep slipped to a 6-0 2-6 6-4 loss on Friday, as her season came to an end in disappointing fashion.
However the biggest talking point from the match was the firm-worded pep talk Cahill delivered to the Romanian star.
During a courtside discussion with her coach, midway through the deciding set, Cahill condemned the 28-year-old's performance by saying: "The last three games you have been an absolute disgrace on court."
“Come on, you can’t win the match doing what you’ve been doing the last three games. You’ve got to reel it in.
“Get your focus back between the lines. For no reason, you’ve lost it here ... So you have a chance to define yourself now in this set. Forget the result, how are you going to finish this match? It’s up to you.
“You can finish with full energy and full focus or you can continue doing what you’ve been doing the last three games and you have no chance to win. “So at least give yourself a chance by pulling it back in. This is on you. Get your attitude back on track and you will win this match. I have full belief.
“You have a choice here how to define yourself as an athlete and a competitor.”
For anyone that missed it. Here is Darren Cahill calling Simona Halep a disgrace. (Via Paul Grogan) pic.twitter.com/l7RwNBFM3x
— Paps (@DatGoneIt77) November 1, 2019
Cahill's tough words did not have the desired effect, with Pliskova going on to progress to the semi-finals where world number one Ashleigh Barty awaits her.
Halep, however, has conceded her coach was right to be so harsh on her.
"I'm pretty sure that I deserved it because I was not calm," Halep said in a news conference, according to WTA Insider.
"I changed something in my attitude.
"Everyone knows that I'm working on that. I was a little bit p***** at myself that I did that. I'm sure that I made him p***** also."
Since her superb run to Wimbledon glory, former world number one Halep has failed to find her best form, only making it into the last eight in one of the five tournaments she has participated in since July.
Good to have you back D... Even if I don't look too happy here 🤣🤣#WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/Xc5g6RGt9J
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) October 28, 2019
Cahill's comments divided opinions online on Saturday, with some believing he'd crossed the line, whilst others arguing it was just basic motivation from the Australian mentor.
Non story of the day. The "on the court" part of @darren_cahill coaching advice conveniently edited from several clickbait stories to gain maximum (false) impact. Nothing to see here. https://t.co/s1Hj09nS3s
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) November 1, 2019
Very little chance, in my view, that Halep comes back to beat Andreescu without on-court coaching & Darren Cahill's input. Whether that's a positive or a negative for tennis depends on your philosophy. Personally, I'd rather have seen her try to solve it in real time alone
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) October 28, 2019
I am appalled at @darren_cahill. How dare he call you a disgrace, you are amazing! Get a new coach, not one who bullies but one you appreciates you as we all do call @Simona_Halep
— Paula Veysey-Smith (@MPowerAccounts) November 1, 2019