Halep becomes first Romanian champion at the All England Club as she beats Williams in 56 minutes; Williams made to wait again for record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title
Sunday 14 July 2019 07:02, UK
Simona Halep produced a brilliant performance to defeat seven-time champion Serena Williams and win her second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in front of a stunned Centre Court crowd.
The Romanian, French Open champion in 2018, had only won one of her previous 10 meetings against Williams but inflicted a third consecutive Grand Slam singles final defeat for the American, who remains on 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
Halep hit just three unforced errors, compared to 26 from Williams, and absorbed the greater shot power from her opponent with excellent effect as she sealed a 6-2 6-2 win in 56 minutes.
The 27-year-old came out of the blocks quickest as Williams was broken in the opening game of the match, before a confident Halep seized a double-break lead with a backhand winner down the line.
Williams had committed seven unforced errors in the opening three games and was struggling to contend with the all-court athleticism from Halep, who was by far the hardest challenge she had faced in the tournament.
The 11th seed got herself on the scoreboard with a love service hold and she brought up a break point in the sixth game, but Halep was up to the test and concluded a battling hold with a forehand winner.
Despite a second love service hold for Williams, she could do nothing to prevent Halep closing out the first set in 26 minutes.
Williams knew she faced an uphill battle and released a huge scream of emotion in the opening game of the second set but, despite a concerted effort to make a break through, Halep remained resolute.
Halep refused to lose her focus and drop her level as she brought up two break points in the fifth game with a forehand winner, and she increased her control on proceedings when Williams went long with a regulation backhand.
Williams appeared shell-shocked and looked in the direction of her box as she sought to find inspiration to mount a comeback, but Halep continued to press home her advantage as she sealed a fourth break of the match with a backhand winner to lead 5-2.
Halep closed out a sensational victory in just 55 minutes with a love service hold to become the first Romanian singles champion.
