Simona Halep has won a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career: The Romanian defeated Sloane Stephens in three sets in the final of the French Open 2018.
By Jens Huiber from Paris
It took three attempts in the Stade Roland Garros for Simona Halep – but from now on the Romanian may operate as Grand Slam winner: Halep defeated American Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-4 and 6-1 in a high-class final, underpinning her top position in the WTA World Ranking.
Stephens, who won the US Open in New York City last September, we will be number four in the world from Monday. The best ranking for her. And yet only a small consolation.
Stephens got off to a better start and was not intimidated by the backdrop, most of which was in the Halep camp. Unlike Garbine Muguruza, Stephens did not engage in a high-speed duel with Halep, but the 25-year-old from Florida often bet on a higher trajectory, buying time to position herself well again. At the right moments, however, Stephens took the initiative and created uncertainty at Halep.
After winning the first set, Stephens also presented a break in the second set, but allowed the Romanian to make a 2-2 comeback. Halep even took the lead 4-2, now Stephens managed the re-break. However, the US Open winner did not manage to keep her serve at 4:5, after 85 minutes Halep had made the equaliser clear.
Both players then took a break from the game, Halep was better placed and Stephens lost their 2-0 serve. Last year Halep had the victory on the bat, defeating Yelena Ostapenko in both the second and the decisive set.
In 2018, however, Stephens gradually ran out of strength and there was not enough to make a comeback. Halep took a 5-0 lead, the Satdion trembled at a few rallies. After a little over two hours Halep took her first match point with a smash – and used it with a serve that Stephens did not bring back into the field.
For Sloane Stephens, the final defeat was a first: the American had previously won all six finals in which she had participated.
Simona Halep is the first Romanian since 1978 to have won one of the four biggest tournaments in tennis.