Halep reaps reward

ROMANIAN Simona Halep is known for her limpet-like tenacity but in the final analysis of her compelling victory over Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open semi-finals, it was the 50 winners that swung it her way. The world number one was the more aggressive player during a rollercoaster of a match in which both saved match points before Halep prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 on Rod Laver Arena to reach her first Australian Open final.

She will need to take the bull by the horns again when she takes on Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki today, with a long-overdue first grand slam title and the number one ranking up for grabs for both the protagonists. “A lot, eh? My brother just wrote me. I cannot believe it, actually,” Halep said when asked about the 50 winners, 28 of which came in a spellbinding deciding set in which she had two match points at 5-4 and saved two at 5-6 before finally breaking down Kerber’s resistance.

“I think [it’s the first time]. And I hope is not the last.”