Halep finally sees dream come true
World No 1 nails down elusive first Slam title at French Open
PARIS — Simona Halep claimed her first Grand Slam title after beating Sloane Stephens in full sets, while Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut triumphed in the men’s doubles final at the French Open on Saturday.
“When I was 14, I decided to be a professional tennis player. Since then, I have dreamed of these moments,” world No 1 Halep said after lifting her first Grand Slam trophy.
The 26-year-old Romanian extended her winning streak over her American opponent to five matches after clinching the final 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, following two previous heartbreaking final losses at Roland Garros, to Maria Sharapova in 2014 and Jelena Ostapenko in 2017.
Both players held their serves in the first three games, before Stephens finished her break in the fourth to move in front and build a 4-1 lead midway through the first set.
Halep failed to have her own response to breaking, and had to concede the opening set at 6-3.
She slid away further after being broken at the start of the second set to see herself two games down.
Stephens, however, began to falter in returning, and Halep took advantage to win four games in a row.
Stephens tied the score after the eighth game, but Halep managed to force to the decider with a 6-4 win.
From there, the Romanian was unstoppable, racing to a 5-0 lead in the decider.
“She raised her game and level. Not much you can really do about that. I competed the best I could, but the better player won the match today,” said Stephens.
“She’s had a tough journey. I think winning here is very special for her and I’m glad she finally got her first major. It’s a beautiful thing, very special.”
Halep, the 2008 Roland Garros girls’ champion, became the sixth player to win the women’s singles title after taking the girls’ crown.
Halep also became just the second Romanian woman to win a Grand Slam title following Virginia Ruzici’s triumph at Roland Garros in 1978.
Ruzici witnessed Halep’s victory from the stand, and accompanied her compatriot at the media conference.
“I’m a Grand Slam champion, but tomorrow is a new day, so I have to start again,” said Halep.
Stephens was sidelined 11 months due to foot surgery, before claiming her first Grand Slam title at last year’s US Open.
“No matter how hard the adversity that you go through, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m glad she finally got her light,” Stephens said.
Stephens saw her previous perfect record in tour-level finals snapped by Saturday’s loss, while being destined to move up to fourth in the latest WTA rankings after reaching the final.
Meanwhile, Herbert and Mahut got past Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic 6-2, 7-6 (4) to clinch the doubles title in front of a raucous home crowd.
On Sunday, Spaniard Rafael Nadal was set to battle for his record-extending 11th men’s singles title at Roland Garros against Austrian Dominic Thiem, the only player having beaten the “King of Clay” on clay this year.