Simona Halep wins French Open 2018 singles title

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Patna : It was third time lucky for World No 1 WTA rankings Simona Halep, 26, Romania, as she beat World No 10 and reigning US Open Champion Sloane Stephens, 25, USA, in three sts in the final to lift the French Open 2018 women’s singles title on June 9, 2018, her first Grand Slam title.

Halep beat Stephens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final on  Philippe Chatrier court, Roland Garros, Paris, to win the French Open title in her third attempt. She had lost to unseeded Jelena Ostapenko, 21, Latvia, in three sets in 2017 final, and Maria Sharapova, 31, Russia, in 2014 final. Halep now leads Stephens 6-2 head to head.  Stephens had last beaten Halep in the 2013 Australian Open in the first round.

Stephens started in a whirlwind fashion attacking Halep’s serve frequently in the first set. Stephens appeared very relaxed in the first set while Halep was slightly tentative in her approach. Stephens easily won the first set. But, thereafter Halep was over Stephens in the next two sets particularly the third set. Halep had lost to World No 2 Caroline Wozniacki, 27, Denmark, in the Australian Open final in 2018. That was Wozniacki’s first Grand Slam title.

Halep did not serve any Ace in the match while Stephens fired one. Halep did not commit any double fault while Stephens had one double fault. Halep won 5 break points to 3 by Stephens. Halep’s winning percentage on both first and secondserve was also much better than  that of Stephens.