Simona Halep outclasses Serena Williams in Singapore

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  • Mauled: Serena Williams couldn't cope with Simona Halep in Singapore.

    Simona Halep played the match of her life against Serena Williams in the WTA Finals in Singapore on Wednesday, but it is a match she wishes to forget as soon as possible in order to resume her nonchalant attitude she’s been maintaining thus far.

    The Romanian world No4 handed Williams her heaviest defeat in 16 years and ended Williams’ 16-match winning streak at the year-end championships, by easing to a 6-0, 6-2 victory in just 65 minutes, in the second round of Red Group action.

    The last time Williams won just two games in a match was in Oklahoma City in 1998 where she lost to South Africa’s Joannette Kruger 6-1, 6-1 in the quarter-finals.

    Before the match, Halep had said she wasn’t giving herself much of a chance to beat Williams and said she was expecting big serves and lots of winners from the American world No1.

    But it is Halep who ended up devouring the Williams serve, breaking her opponent five times and saving all six break points she faced on her own service games. She is yet to be broken this week.

    Not only was it Halep’s first win over Williams in four meetings, it was her maiden victory over any top-three opponent in nine matches.

    “I have no words to explain how I feel and how I felt on court,” Halep said with a massive grin on her face. 

    “It was an amazing match for me. I played really well. I was aggressive, and after the first set I wasn't scared.

    “I continued to just hit the balls and to stay close to the line, because I knew that I don't have any chance if I stay back. I was very relaxed today during the match.”

    It was a slow start from Williams, who double-faulted twice in her first game to get broken and was soon trailing 0-5.

    She tried to put up a fight in game six, saving two set points, but Halep aced on the third to hand Williams her first bagel since Madrid last year, which was 18 months ago.

    The Romanian broke again to open the second set but Williams got a lifeline in the following game, getting her hands on her first break points of the match. Still Halep calmly brought her A-game to save both and held for 2-0 with a backhand passing shot winner. All Williams could do was applaud.

    The top seed finally getting on the board in the ninth game of the match.

    “My forehand was off today. I guess it went on an early vacation,” said a sarcastic Williams after her loss. “Lord knows my serve was as well. My serve, I don't even… I don't know. My serve was at best in the 10 and under division in juniors.

    “It was actually embarrassing I think describes the way I played. Yeah, very embarrassing.”

    Halep fired a clutch ace in the following game to save a break point and saved two more while serving for the match. She sealed the win when Williams hit another forehand in the net – her 36th unforced error of the match, which included seven double faults.

    “I think it was the best match in my life,” admits Halep.

    “When I was sitting down at 2‑1 in second set, I told myself that it's the first game and I have to replay again the points, just to think that it's the first game and I have to win every point. That helped me. That's why I wasn't scared, I think.”

    Williams agrees. “I think she played really well, to be honest. Personally I've never seen her play like this. Ever.

    “To be quite frankly honest, I'm looking forward to our next meeting because she is making me going to go home and work hard and particularly train for her.”

    Looking ahead, does Halep give herself a chance to win the tournament? “First I have to forget this day, because it's really tough to forget it. I'm really happy,” she answers.

    Later on centre court, Ana Ivanovic breezed past Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard 6-1, 6-3 in 83 minutes.

    The Serb who lost a close opener to Williams on day one, is now second in the standings in the Red Group behind Halep and ahead of Williams and Bouchard, who is 0-4 in sets so far.

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