TENNIS WTA FINALS – Simona Halep gave the most severe loss of Serena Williams’s career, who had not lost a match with only two games being won since 1998. In teh second match of the day Ana Ivanovic defeated Eugenie Bouchard 6-1, 6-3.
The Romanian showed great mental strength to keep her head cool, against probably the most dangerous opponent in such one sided matches: fear. Halep had never won against the world number one and, after being almost gifted the first set by a very erratic Williams, she had to dig deep not to suffer the comeback of the American.
The world number one appeared very lethargic and her footwork never recovered during the match, which made her spread errors after errors in the first set, which was over as soon as it started.
Halep started the second set with another break, but it was clear that Williams was going to try hard to turn the match around. She increased the volume of her screams and started to accept longer rallies, but whenever Halep was given the chance, she was taking control of the rally and close it with authority.
However, the Romanian had to face six break points throughout the set and, where most players would have let the moment catch them, she played some of her best points to save them with aces or winners.
Halep closed the match in little more than one hour for the pleasure of a public very much behind the Romanian, giving Williams her eight career “bagel” and the first 2-game-only loss in 16 years, when she lost to Kruger in Oklahoma City with a double 6-1.
The world number four has put herself in a great condition to reach the semifinals of these WTA Finals at her very first appearance.
Ana Ivanovic kept her chances to reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals alive after beating in straight sets Eugenie Bouchard 6-1 6-3.
The former world number one had little to fear today from a very erratic and overly-negative minded Bouchard, who had won both their encounters in the past, but looked once again overwhelmed by tension.
The key to her loss was the horrible performance with the forehand, which let her down from the very first game and handed the win to the Serb in the last point. In the middle, it was a collection of badly timed, framed and out-of-control shots from this wing, which was exposed over and over by the world number seven.
In a little more than half an hour, Ivanovic secured the first set, losing no points with her first serve.
In the second set, the Canadian tried a reaction, but she wasted far too many occasions and ended up losing the majority of the games which went to deuce.
With this result, the Serb can still qualify for the next round of these WTA Finals, even though a lot will depend on her next performance against Simona Halep and the result of Serena Williams against the Canadian.
