Serena Williams 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 Simona Halep
The 2nd set was one of the best sets during the whole year, with the sole break deciding everything and that last game could possibly be the best game of 2016, lasting for 22 points. Williams was also 0/12 on break points in the whole of the 2nd set.
Williams
made the perfect start to the match, breaking serve in Halep’s opening service
game and led 3-0 in the opening stages. Nevertheless, Halep showed that she
belongs to the top of women’s tennis when she managed to break back to let the
match remain on serve. Halep threw the opportunity to stay on serve after
Williams broke her serve once again and regain the lead. Serving to stay in the
set at 5-2 down, Halep failed to maintain her composure and went down to
Williams’ strong forehands to lose the set 6-2 after just 33 minutes.
Halep made
the first breakthrough in the second set when she broke Williams’ serve to take
the lead for the first time in the match with the help of 2 double faults. Halep
then successfully consolidated the break to keep her nose in front in the 2nd
set. Serving for the set, Halep prevailed in the marathon 22-points game to win
the 2nd set, saving 5 break points in the process.
Halep had
break points in the opening game of the final set, but failed to capitalise on
her opportunities. She would rue over those missed opportunities as Williams
made the first breakthrough at 2-1 when she broke Halep’s serve to take the
lead and be closer to a semifinal appearance. With no more breaks of serve in
the set, Williams successfully served out the set 6-3 after 36 minutes and
clinch the match in 3 sets after 134 minutes of high-quality tennis.
Williams
|
Halep
|
|
Aces
|
18
|
1
|
DFs
|
4
|
5
|
1st Serve
|
57%
|
65%
|
1st Serve Won
|
77%
|
64%
|
2nd Serve Won
|
51%
|
39%
|
Break Points
|
4/20
|
2/9
|
Net Points
|
26/32
|
5/7
|
Winners
|
50
|
20
|
Unforced Errors
|
43
|
17
|
Points Won
|
109
|
92
|