Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Halep rolls over Svitolina to reach first Wimbledon final

IN years to come when tennis fans flick through the hefty 500-page Wimbledon Compendium, they will note that in 2019 Simona Halep rolled over Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals for the loss of just four games.

What the 6-1 6-3 scoreline will not reveal, however, was that Halep took nine minutes to hold serve in the opening game of the encounter played out in glorious sunshine on Centre Court or that Svitolina earned and squandered three break points.


Readers will also have no idea that the first two games alone lasted 20 exhilarating minutes, featuring 10 break points and that Svitolina could have been 2-0 up if she had capitalised on the numerous opportunities that fell her way.

Instead, it was Halep who grabbed the 2-0 lead before running away with a victory that put her one win from becoming the first Romanian to lift a Wimbledon singles trophy.

"It is an amazing feeling. I am very excited and nervous, It was one of the best moments of my life and I am trying to enjoy it," said a beaming Halep after her 73-minute destruction set up a final against Serena Williams.

"I am going to fight to the end because I really want to win this championship."

As both Halep and Svitolina stretched every sinew running to chase down everything their opponent could throw at them in rallies that went on for over 20 shots, fans who had settled into their $200 seats thought they were about to witness a show-stopping battle that could become an all-time classic.

But just when Williams and Barbora Strycova, who were waiting in the wings ready to contest the second semi-final, might have been contemplating if they would need to change their dinner plans, Halep was broken to love in the very next game.

It was that sort of a strange match.

A clash that had looked close on paper, with eighth seed Svitolina holding a 4-3 advantage in head-to-head meetings with seventh seed Halep, ended up being thin on drama.

Before Svitolina had a chance to daydream about what it would be like to become the first Ukrainian to feature in a Wimbledon singles final, she had lost the first set without holding her serve even once.

It might have taken Halep 20 minutes to win the first two games, but the rest of the set lasted only another 23 minutes to the disappointment of not only Svitolina but also her tennis-playing boyfriend Gael Monfils who sat frowning in the players' box.

The daughter of a former wrestler, Svitolina simply struggled to grapple with Halep's solid baseline tactics and the crowd also found it hard to make much sense of what they were witnessing.

"In the beginning you want to make a statement that you are there for the fight. I didn't take my chances. That's was disappointing," said Svitolina.

When Svitolina finally held serve for the first time to open the second set, the 'sympathy clap' that usually follows such occasions was also missing. It appeared as if the 15,000 spectators had lost interest in a match that was heading for only one conclusion.

Halep stormed through her first three service games in the second set without dropping a point and within a blink of an eye, she held two match points at 5-3 upon Svitolina's serve.

A forehand error on the first delayed her celebrations but she made no mistake on the second when the Ukrainian netted a backhand.

Sticking her tongue out, Halep looked up to the heavens with arms held aloft as she soaked up the standing ovation from the cheering fans having completed a win she described as "one of my best on grass".

While Halep tried to play down the demolition job by suggesting "it is not like the scoreline looks, each game went long and deep", Svitolina summed up the 27-year-old Romanian's performance by saying: "She played unbelievable today.

"She was moving really good, striking the ball perfectly. It was a little bit me making poor decisions in some important moments, and her playing unbelievably which made the score like that."

(Reuters)

More For You

LSG vs MI

With both teams boasting star-studded line-ups and crucial battles set to unfold

Getty

IPL 2025: LSG vs MI - A battle for redemption and supremacy

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is heating up, and fans are eagerly awaiting the showdown between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 16. The two teams will face off at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 4 at 7:30 PM IST. With both teams eyeing crucial points, this promises to be an electrifying contest.

Current form and team overview

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

LSG have had a mixed start to their IPL 2025 campaign, having managed one win so far. They will be eager to bounce back, especially after a disappointing loss against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their last home game. Despite the setback, Nicholas Pooran has been a standout performer, holding the Orange Cap with 189 runs in three matches.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK to host 2035 Women's World Cup

Grace Clinton of England controls the ball during a training session at St Georges Park on April 01, 2025 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

UK to host 2035 Women's World Cup

THE UK appears set to host the 2035 Women's World Cup after FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday (3) described its interest as the "one valid bid" for the tournament.

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales announced last month that they would submit a joint bid to host the finals.

Keep ReadingShow less
jos-buttler

Buttler’s performance with the bat compensated for his missed chances behind the stumps, including a dropped catch of Phil Salt in the first over off Siraj. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Buttler’s unbeaten 73 guides Gujarat to win over Bengaluru in IPL

JOS BUTTLER remained unbeaten on 73 as Gujarat Titans secured an eight-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Chasing 170, Gujarat built on a 75-run second-wicket stand between Buttler and Sai Sudharsan, who scored 49, reaching the target with 13 balls to spare at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Keep ReadingShow less
KKR vs SRH

The two teams have met 28 times in IPL history so far

Getty

IPL 2025: KKR vs SRH - High-stakes Eden Gardens clash promises fireworks

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Thursday at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This match marks a crucial point in the season for both sides, as they look to bounce back after a slow start.

KKR and SRH, last season’s finalists, have managed just one victory each from their first three matches this season. With both teams desperate to gain momentum, this encounter promises to be a thrilling contest.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prabhsimran-Singh-Getty

Prabhsimran Singh scored 69 off 34 balls.

Getty Images

Punjab secure second IPL win with Prabhsimran’s quickfire 69

Wicketkeeper-batsman Prabhsimran Singh struck 69 off 34 balls as Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets on Tuesday, securing their second win of the IPL season.

Chasing a target of 172, Punjab reached the total with nearly four overs to spare. Captain Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 52 off 30 balls.

Keep ReadingShow less