Halep stuns Williams to win Wimbledon title

Serena Williams' wait for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title goes on after Simona Halep stunned the off-key American 6-2 6-2 in Wimbledon final on Saturday. An inspired Halep took full advantage of an error-strewn display by seven-times champion Williams to become the first Romanian to win a Wimbledon singles title. The 27-year-old Halep, broke the Williams serve in the opening game and raced into a 4-0 lead on Centre Court. Even when Williams fired herself up at the start of the second set and began to strike the ball with her customary power, seventh seed Halep refused to take a backward step.

RUNNER-UP, WIMBLEDON WOMEN'S SINGLES, SERENA WILLIAMS said "Yeah, she literally played out of her mind, congratulations Simona. You know, it was a little bit a deer in headlights for me. Whenever a player plays that amazing you just have to take your hat off and give them a nod on the head, so congrats on all the hard work."

CHAMPION, WIMBLEDON WOMEN'S SINGLES, SIMONA HALEP said "Unbelievable. It's something very special and I will never forget this day because it was my mum's dream when I was about 10-12 she said that if I want to do something in tennis, I have to play the final of Wimbledon, so the day came, so my mum, thanks to my parents actually."

Until Saturday the only other Romanian to reach the Wimbledon final was Ilie Nastase who twice finished runner-up, in 1972 and 1976. But Halep went one better as she added the Wimbledon crown to the French Open she won in 2018.