Serena without a record: Halep beat Williams and won at Wimbledon

For the whole world of tennis came the historical moment. In many sports there are records that, it seems, can not be beaten in modern realities. Once, the same achievement seemed to be Margaret Court’s 24 victories in Grand Slam tournaments. But two and a half years ago, Serena Williams won the 23rd title in Australia and came close to repeating this result.

Since then, Williams tried to take the last step. Few people believed that she would be able to achieve her goal, given her age and the break associated with the birth of her child. But, having returned to tennis, the American seriously intended to finish the job. She already had two attempts - last year she reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals, but was defeated by Angelica Kerber and Naomi Osaki.

Every month, Williams fans had more and more fears that she would never conquer the summit. Age, injuries, pressure from journalists, the need to raise a daughter - everything was against her. But the former first racket of the world still got another chance. At the current Wimbledon, she scored six victories in a row and reached the final. Due to the fact that the next title was running away from her for so long, she became the oldest tennis player at this Wimbledon in the Open era, who was one step away from winning the Grand Slam tournament.

Before Williams there was only one obstacle in the form of Simone Halep. Up until the finale of the 11th-seeded American, she did not have to meet with girls who were higher than her rating. Only Julia Gerges and Carla Suárez Navarro were Williams ’sledged opponents, and in the quarterfinals and semi-finals she didn’t have to meet Ashley Bartie, Petra Kvitova and Angelica Kerber, although they were all in her half of the tournament grid.

Halep, on the other hand, did not play at all with tennis players who would be higher in rank, although the names of some of them were very well known. On the way to the final, Romanian beat Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina (both matches, as well as the final, were played on the Central Court), and in the fourth round, beat the main favorite of the tournament, Corey Goff. If Williams on Saturday went out to fight for her 24th title on the Grand Slam, then Halep - only for the second, because in her collection there is only a victory at Roland Garros last year.

Williams and Khalep met ten times, and the American had a tangible advantage in their confrontation. She lost only once in the group stage of the Final Tournament in 2014. In the other nine meetings, including three in Grand Slam tournaments, Williams was better. Their last game was in the fourth round of the Australian Open, and Halep was able to impose the fight only until the third set.

Throwing it back to 2011

Eight years on #Wimbledon final ... pic.twitter.com/ZZd6HIbOVW

This time Halep started the match at the reception and immediately made a break thanks to three mistakes made by Williams. She took her first submission to zero, after which she won two more games - by the time only 12 minutes had passed from the start of the match. Only on the third attempt the American was able to successfully file and stop her fall. Khalep by that time did not make any unforced error.

Williams tried to take a breath in the sixth game and got close to the break, but the opponent managed to recoup and keep the gap in four games. Having taken her pitch dry, but without making a single Ace, the American then could not counter anything with Halep when she filed for the set. The game was left to the first Romanian Wimbledon finalist. In 74 cases out of 82, such a start of a match meant for her victory in Grand Slam tournaments. But five defeats out of eight, when she won the first set, occurred just at Wimbledon.

Is there any part of Center Court @Simona_Halep didn't cover ?! 💨 # Wimbledonpic.twitter.com / lA8Y3a6Vjw

The beginning of the second batch was more even. Williams retained his serve twice, although he made 13 unforced errors with 13 draws that were actively won. Such statistics did not leave her a chance of success. Already in the fifth game, Halep made a break and took overclocking at the finish line, at the end of which there was “Venus Rosewater Dish” - the main female Wimbledon trophy.

Within touching distance ... #Wimbledon title pic.twitter.com/aPjExdjbBr

Khalep won three games in a row, and when applying for the title she waited for four mistakes in a row from her opponent. In just 56 minutes, she won the Wimbledon final and became the first tennis player from Romania to win the most prestigious of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

“I have never played so well before. Serena inspired us all for this, so thanks to her. It is a great honor for me to play in front of the Royal Lodge. I have no words to convey my feelings, ”said Halep immediately after the match.

The moment @Simona_Halep became Romania's first ever #Wimbledon singles champion 🇷🇴 pic.twitter.com/bny53dP8AL

Next week, the Romanian tennis player will return to the top four of the WTA rankings, from which she recently dropped due to an early departure from Roland Garros. Williams will move from 11th position to ninth position. The next attempt to win the 24th Grand Slam tournament she will take on August 26, when the US Open will start at home.