Live updates: Serena Williams vs. Simona Halep in Wimbledon women's final
Is wasn’t Serena Williams’ day.
Simona Halep defeated Williams 6-2, 6-2 in her first Wimbledon final.
Second set
Halep 6, Serena 2
Halep serving. Halep makes it look easy, winning the game and denying Serena history.
Halep 5, Serena 2
Serena serving. A double fault to start the game really puts Serena in the hole. She then hits a backhand into the net to trail 0-30 before an ace and a Halep mishit make it 30-30. Another great serve gives Serena a 40-30 lead, but a backhand into the net makes it deuce. Another shot into the net by Serena gives Halep a break point, but an ace makes it deuce. Serena and Halep trade points again (too many unforced errors for Serena). Another backhand into the net gives Halep a break point, and a backhand winner down the baseline gives her a shot to serve for her first Wimbledon championship.
Halep 4, Serena 2
Halep serving. Serena wins the first point, but Halep quickly responds to make it 15-15. Serena gets a break on the next point as her shot hits the net and goes over, but another strong forehand winner by Halep makes it 30-30. Halep takes the next two points for the game and is two wins away from the title.
Within touching distance...@Simona_Halep gets the break in the second set and is just three games away from a first #Wimbledon title pic.twitter.com/aPjExdjbBr
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
Halep 3, Serena 2
Serena serving. Halep is reading Serena’s serve beautifully and takes a 15-0 lead and another great return off of a Serena slam gives her a 30-0 advantage. Serena responds with a strong first serve to make it 15-30, but a great pass by Halep gives her two break points. She only needs one as Serena hits long at the net to give Halep the game.
Serena 2, Halep 2
Halep serving. The players stay on serve in the second set as Halep holds at love.
Serena 2, Halep 1
Serena serving. Serena takes the first point before a perfectly placed drop shot gives her a 30-0 lead. A backhand winner makes it 40-0 Serena, and she closes out a love game for the third time in the match.
Live reactions to the level of tennis on show 😮#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/NmOgTnGAYY
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
Serena 1, Halep 1
Halep serving. Serena takes a 30-15 lead, but hits a forehand into the net to make it 30-30. Serena then misses a forehand and a backhand as Halep holds.
Serena 1, Halep 0
Serena serving. Another great get by Halep on the first point after Serena had won eight straight points on her serve. Serena screams out after hitting a forehand volley winner on the next point, trying to push herself for a rally. Serena is starting to feel it with a backhand winner on the next point, but a rocket forehand just misses to make it 30-30. Serena responds with a forehand baseline winner to get game point, and Halep hits long on the next point as an intense Serena holds.
First set
Lift-off for @Simona_Halep 💨
The Romanian takes the opening set 6-2 against Serena Williams, breaking twice and making just two unforced errors #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/g8Qn851x4a— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
Halep 6, Serena 2
Halep serving. Serena hits a backhand long on the first point, and Halep returns the favor on the next one. Serena appeared to have a backhand winner on the next one, but a brilliant get by Halep gives her a 30-15 lead, and a long volley on the next one gives Halep two set points. Serena saves the first with a forehand winner, but hits out on the next point to give Halep the first set.
Halep 5, Serena 2
Serena serving. Another love service game for Serena as she’s starting to find her groove with her serve, which could help in the second set.
Halep 5, Serena 1
Halep serving. Serena takes the first point, but a beautiful backhand pass by Halep makes it 15-15. A forehand winner by Serena gives her a 30-15 lead, but a good serve by Halep makes it 30-30. Serena then hits a forehand in the net, but a forehand winner by Serena makes it deuce. Serena gets her first break point with a forehand winner, but hits a forehand wide for another deuce. A great wide serve by Halep gives her the advantage, and she hits a forehand winner to take the game.
Halep 4, Serena 1
Serena serving. Finally! Serena dominates and holds at love, but Halep still has two breaks in the first set.
Halep 4, Serena 0
Halep serving. Halep hits a beautiful forehand winner on the first point, and Serena makes another unforced error on the second. Halep finally mishits as Serena closes the gap to 15-30, but a wide forehand makes it 15-40. Serena cuts it to 30-40, but Halep records the first ace of the match to close out the game.
Halep 3, Serena 0
Serena serving. Serena captures the first point, but a brilliantly played second point is won by Halep, who is really dialed in. Serena hits a backhand into the net on the next point and trails 15-30, but responds by taking the next point to make it 30-30. But Serena’s backhand misfires on the next point to give Halep a chance to go up a double break, which she takes advantage of with a backhand winner.
Start as you mean to go on...
Eight minutes in and @Simona_Halep has a double break in the first set against Serena Williams, leading 3-0#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/7pb61xyPm2— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
Halep 2, Serena 0
Halep serving. Halep dominates the second game, winning all four points.
Halep 1, Serena 0
Serena serving. Williams starts with a strong first serve on the first point, but Halep responds with a forehand winner to make it 15-15. Another good serve by Serena gives her a 30-15 lead, but her next shot goes out to make it 30-30. Then Serena hits into the net to give Halep an early break point, which she finishes off on the next point.
Before the match
Who will be crowned the 2019 ladies singles #Wimbledon champion?
Follow it all as it happens 👇 https://t.co/Dyo2R1P6u7— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
The ladies take Centre stage...
A 24th Grand Slam for Serena or a first #Wimbledon title for Simona#Wimbledon | @serenawilliams | @Simona_Halep pic.twitter.com/wlItuPVzGx— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
Buckle up, Day 12 is here!#Wimbledon | @HSBC_Sport pic.twitter.com/LCnGpPq0Gg
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
These two have met before at Wimbledon.
Throwing it back to 2011, when a 19-year-old @Simona_Halep pushed @serenawilliams to three sets in the second round at The Championships
Eight years on and they're about to contest the #Wimbledon final... pic.twitter.com/ZZd6HIbOVW— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
The Duchess of Cambridge is among those in attendance.
A warm welcome to the Duchess of Cambridge on ladies' day...#Wimbledon | @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/GleM8z8k3Z
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019
Yum!
Making macarons in the shape of tennis balls?
That’s the role of our Head Pastry Chef Rebecca Marshman, who starts at 6am every day in her quest for perfection ✨#AmexLife | @AmericanExpress pic.twitter.com/pfD5tzCQ5H— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019