Simona Halep to face Serena in Wimbledon final with record Slam haul in view

SHARE NOW

LONDON: Simona Halep is the last woman standing between Serena Williams and achieving her long-held ambition of equalling Margaret Court’s Grand Slam title record after both recorded easy victories in their Wimbledon semi-finals on Thursday.

Seven-time champion Williams made short work of plucky unseeded Czech Barbora Strycova, whose experience of her first ever Grand Slams singles semi-final in her 53rd campaign lasted just under an hour as she lost 6-1, 6-2.

Former world number one Halep’s clash with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina lasted a bit longer but the 27-year-old ran out a 6-1, 6-3 victor to become the first Romanian woman to reach the Wimbledon final.

Williams has missed the chance to equal Australian Court’s record on two occasions since returning from giving birth — losing last year’s Wimbledon final and then a bad-tempered defeat in the US Open final.

“It feels good to be in the final again after the year I have had,” said 37-year-old Williams.

“I have just needed matches to feel good and do what I do best and that is play tennis

“I love what I do. I have a great job and I am still pretty good at it. I get a remarkable experience every time.”

Williams produced a dominant performance on Thursday which has not always been the case during the Championships and she said she would not be taking seventh-seeded Halep lightly.

“She’s a tough opponent,” said Williams. “We always have great matches. I look forward to it.”

Strycova, who never managed to impose her delightful stroke-filled game on her opponent, at least has the consolation of perhaps winning the women’s doubles.

Halep, who was French Open champion in 2018, will be playing in her fifth Grand Slam final.

“It’s an amazing feeling but I am also excited and nervous. It is one of the best moments of my life,” said Halep.

“The match was not easy, the games were long and went deep.

“I fought hard to win this match and I was strong mentally and physically and had the right tactics.”

Halep, who had knocked out new star, 15-year-old Coco Gauff in the last 16, lost in her previous semi-final appearance at Wimbledon to Eugenie Bouchard in 2014.

However, she said she was a different player now and had taken to grass.

“I have more experience, I don’t give up anymore,” she said.

“I plan to be the best version of myself and fight to the end.”
‘Kicking the ball’

The easy manner in which former world number one Halep wrapped up the match had not looked on the cards at the outset.

Svitolina, the first Ukrainian woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, and Halep traded shots aplenty and breakpoints in the opening two games which took over 20 minutes to complete but Halep emerged on top with a 2-0 lead.

Svitolina, being watched from the players’ box by her English coach Andy Bettles and French boyfriend and ATP star Gael Monfils, briefly raised her game to break back.

However, Halep broke again immediately and 24-year-old Svitolina gave an indication of her increasing frustration when she netted a simple volley and lashed out, kicking the ball into the net.

Worse was to come for Svitolina on her next service game when Halep produced a stunning shot to go 5-1.

The 27-year-old Romanian dashed across the court to get to Svitolina’s drop shot and flashed it cross court.

Halep, who had not faced a seeded player until Svitolina, faced some resistance as she served for the set eventually taking it on her sixth set point.

Although Svitolina stayed with Halep for the first part of the second set, the self-belief and fight had gone and when the Romanian broke for 4-3 it was game over.

All that was left was for Halep to blow a kiss skywards in celebration on sealing the match.

xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto, situs toto slot
bacan4d
xx1toto
xx1toto, Situs Toto Slot
xx1toto
bacansport
bacan4d
xx1toto, situs toto slot, bandar casino
xx1toto, situs toto slot, bandar casino
xx1toto, situs toto, toto slot
xx1toto, Situs Toto Slot
Link Situs Toto Slot
scatter hitam
xx1toto, situs toto, tabel shio
Situs Scatter Hitam Mahjong Wins 3
xx1toto
xx1toto, situs toto slot, bandar togel
situs toto slot
scatter hitam, black scatter, mahjong wins 3
mahjong scatter
situs toto
black scatter, mahjong wins 3
xx1toto
xx1toto
bacan4d
bacansport
bacansport
xx1toto
bacansport
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
slot gacor bacan4d
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
bacansport
xx1toto
bacan4d
xx1toto
xx1toto
bacan4d
linkbacan4d
bacan4d
bacan4d
bacansports
bacan4d
xx1toto
xx1toto
bacan4d
bacan4d
scatter hitam
xx1toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
bacan4d
bacan4d slot gacor
bacan4d
xx1toto scatter hitam
xx1toto
bacan4d
bacansport
bacan4d
ts77casino bet 200
bacansport
aplikasi slot
xx1toto scatter hitam
bacan4d
bacan4d login
situs toto
xx1toto
xx1toto
bacansport
bacan4d
xx1toto
slottoto
xx1toto
bacan4d
bacan4d
ts77casino
ts77casino
ts77casino
ts77casino
Scatter Hitam
Situs Toto
toto slot
Scatter Hitam
Situs Toto
toto slot
bacan4d toto terpercaya
scatter hitam
slot mahjong wins 3
mahjong wins 3 black scatter
scatter hitam
ts77casino
ts77casino
tabel shio 2025
bacan4d
akun slot bet 400
bacan4d slot gacor toto
instagram bacansports
situs toto
bacan4d slot toto
scatter hitam
Situs Toto
scatter hitam
slot bet kecil
bacansports taruhan bola
slot gacor
facebook bacan4d
Demo Slot
Situs Toto
toto togel
Toto slot gacor
slot gacor bett 200
situs toto
situs toto
bacan4d scatter hitam 2025
bacan4d slot bet 300
bacansport
bacan4d situs slot toto gacor
Situs Toto Slot
Bacansports
Bacantoto Situs Toto Slot
xx1toto
xx1toto, situs toto slot
bacan4d
Situs Toto Slot, Situs Togel, toto slot, xx1toto
scatter hitam
Situs Toto Slot, Bandar Togel, Toto macau
Bacan4d Situs Toto Slot Login
xx1toto, Login Situs Toto
xx1toto, Situs Toto Slot
Situs Toto Slot, Agen Toto Slot 4D, Tabel Shio
xx1toto, situs toto, toto slot, bandar togel
xx1toto, situs black scatter hitam
Situs Toto Slot, Bandar Togel
Situs Toto Slot
Situs Toto Slot
Bacantoto Situs Slot Toto Slot Gacor
xx1toto, situs toto slot
situs toto slot
Situs Idn Slot Gacor
bacansports
situs toto slot
bacansport