Halep, Serena book WTA Finals showdown

Romanian faces American after beating Radwanska in straight sets


Reuters October 25, 2014

SINGAPORE: Simona Halep crushed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday to join Serena Williams in the championship decider at the WTA Finals.

The pint-sized Romanian rebounded from her loss to Ana Ivanovic in the last group match on Friday to dominate Radwanska at Singapore's National Indoor Stadium.

Halep broke Radwanska's serve five times and racked up 26 winners against the Pole, including an overhead smash to seal her lopsided victory in just 67 minutes.

"I'm very excited to be in the final," said Halep in a courtside interview. "I've played my best tennis here this week."

The 23-year-old Halep, one of the most improved players in the women's game, made it to the title match in her first appearance at the elite season-ending event.

Ranked 64th in the world 18 months ago, she announced her arrival as one of the game's rising stars.

In 2013, the Romanian won her first WTA title; then her second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. The WTA, in one of its easiest decisions, named her as the tour's most improved player.

Serena puts friendship aside against Wozniacki

There were no wild celebrations or fist pumps from Serena after she beat Wozniacki at the WTA Finals on Saturday.

Instead, the world number one was overcome with remorse after beating her good friend in an epic match that could have gone either way.

Serena, perhaps the most ferocious competitor women's tennis has ever seen, won 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), but her relief at winning was tempered by her feelings for her Danish opponent.

"Yeah, it was the first match I didn't feel great since obviously – if you take Venus out of the equation – where I wasn't happy after I won," said Serena.

“I felt like crying because she [Wozniacki] is so nice, we get along and do so much together. It was really kind of difficult."

 

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