For Serena Williams, history will have to wait.
Playing for one of the few records in tennis history that she doesn’t own outright — a 24th Grand Slam title that would tie Margaret Court’s mark — Williams was undone by a slew of unforced errors in Wimbledon’s women’s final and fell to the far steadier Simona Halep, 6-2, 6-2, in just 56 minutes.
The match started ominously for the 37-year-old Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon champion who was seeking to win her first tournament win since giving birth to a daughter, Alexis Olympia, in September 2017.
Not in peak form at the outset, she sprayed forehands long and plowed backhands into the net.
Halep, 27, was steady as a backboard by contrast, absorbing Williams’s power, running down sharply angled shots and avoiding unforced errors.
Just 11 minutes in, Williams found herself 0-4 in arrears.
The match was a study in sharp contrasts.
It was their 11th career meeting, and Williams stepped onto Centre Court knowing she held a 9-1 advantage in their previous meetings — not to mention, was a seven-time Wimbledon champion.
Williams had the clear edge in power and experience; Halep, in foot speed and defense.
But the first set was over in a flash. Playing nearly error-free tennis, Halep claimed the opening set, 6-2, in 26 minutes.
Williams ramped up the power and angles of her shots to start the second set. She also amped up the decibels of her celebrations, unleashing a ferocious roar after executing a deft touch volley in her opening service game.
Halep was unrattled.
Time and again, Williams went for broke on her shots, eager to end the rally, only to watch in near disbelief as Halep chased down a ball that would have been a winner against many other opponents.
[Shining brighter in twilight, Federer downs Nadal, and next faces Djokovic]
Match highlights
by Ava Wallace in Washington
Final: Halep wins Wimbledon title, 6-2, 6-2
Halep dominated the match to win in under an hour and keep Williams from major title No. 24. It’s the Romanian’s second Grand Slam tournament title, following the 2018 French Open championship, and her first at Wimbledon. This is the first time in Williams’s career that she has lost three consecutive Grand Slam finals in which she’s competed.
Second set: Halep will serve for the match leading 5-2
This match went off the rails quickly (in just 53 minutes) for Williams. Halep broke again and will serve for her first Wimbledon title.
Second set: Halep breaks to lead 3-2
Halep has maintained control even after Williams seemed to settle in and raise her level early in the second set. The Romanian’s timing remains impeccable, and Williams hasn’t found her best serves — she is without an ace to this point. This may be the best Halep has ever played.
Halep wins first set, 6-2
Williams hasn’t had the best start, but this so far match is all about Halep. The Romanian played a nearly perfect first set — she had just unforced errors — and ended it by sending a serve to Williams’s forehand, which the American sent sailing out. All three of the previous Grand Slam meetings between Williams and Halep went three sets, but for now, Halep is in the driver’s seat.
First set: Halep breaks again, leads 4-0
Halep is up a double break and seals a 4-0 lead with an ace as Williams looks off her game early. The American already has six unforced errors on her backhand.
First set: Halep breaks early for a 2-0 lead
Halep’s primo defending is on display early as she takes a game off the seven-time champion by reading her serve and placing returns well. She consolidated the break by holding serve at 40-0.
Setting the scene
Serena Williams and Simona Halep have walked onto Cenre Court for the women’s final. It’s Halep’s first Wimbledon final and her first time playing in a Grand Slam final against Williams. As usual for Wimbledon championship matches, actual royalty has populated the Royal Box. Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, and Serena Williams’s good friend Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are in attendance.
Finals preview
An upset-filled women’s tournament laden with breakthrough performances ends Saturday at Wimbledon, when Serena Williams gets a third chance to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles. To do so, she’ll have to get past a fellow former world No. 1 who’s in peak condition, both physically and mentally. Simona Halep has almost none of the pressure on her shoulders heading into her first Wimbledon final, and for Williams, that’s a dangerous thing — Halep is at her best when she can play freely.
First things first: Check out colleague Liz Clarke’s detailed preview of the match, where you can read about how Halep improved her grass-court game and why Williams is playing stronger than she has all year.
Now for the nitty-gritty, and let’s address Williams first. It’s the 37-year-old’s 11th career Wimbledon final, and she’ll be playing for her eighth singles championship at the All-England Club. She got here by bulldozing past Barbora Strycova 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals, showing off conditioning and shot-making she hadn’t previously displayed this year.
She has said the mixed doubles she played with Andy Murray helped on that front. But more than anything, the fact that she is playing without any pain in the injured knee that has hampered her for much of the season and kept her extremely low on match play (she had just 12 matches under her belt before the fortnight) has made the difference. Williams is moving well and is undoubtedly more confident than she was the last time we saw her compete, at the French Open in May.
As for Halep, the 2018 French Open champion is feeling herself as well. She dismantled Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-3 to get to her first Wimbledon final and knows all of the weight is on her opponent Saturday. She’s a top-notch defender and as determined as Rafael Nadal to play every point to the bitter end, which will hopefully make for a competitive final. History isn’t on Halep’s side — she has a 1-9 record against Williams — but the fact that she’s playing better on grass than ever before in her career should bolster her self-belief.
