In her first meeting since losing the 2019 Wimbledon final, Serena Williams thrashed Simona Halep, 6-3, 6-3, to book her place in the semifinals of the 2021 Australian Open on Tuesday.
10th seeded Serena Williams on Tuesday needed an hour and 21 minutes to beat the Romanian 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets.
The 23 times- Grand Slam champion was in a decisive mood from the match start and didn’t give Halep, world No. 2 a chance. She hit 14 winners to win the opening set.
The 39-year-old will next face Naomi Osaka who had defeated her in US Open final 2018. She is one Grand Slam victory away from equaling Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slams.
In the second set, Halep gained a 3-1 lead, but Serena came back to level at 3-3. She carried on the momentum and won the rest of the games to take the set and match.
„I definitely think this was the best match I’ve played this tournament, for sure. Obviously I had to going up against No. 2 in the world. I knew I had to do better and that’s what I did. I’m excited.”
Her last Grand Slam title was when she beat sister Venus in the Australian Open final in 2017.
Earlier in the day, Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka advanced to the semi-finals of the ongoing Australian Open after overpowering Taiwan’s Su-Wei Hsieh on Tuesday.
Before the match, the 29-year-old Romanian said: “I watched a little bit of Serena with Aryna Sabalenka today, and there was huge power… but I have experience.”
“I played many times with these players, and I beat most of them. So I’m confident with my way of playing, and doesn’t matter that much the power of the game for me.”
