WTA Finals: Serena Williams suffers 16-year heaviest loss

World number one Serena Williams was beaten 6-0 6-2 by Simona Halep at the WTA Finals in Singapore to suffer her heaviest defeat since 1998. The 18-time Grand Slam winner, 33, was 16 when she lost 6-1 6-1 to Joannette Kruger in Oklahoma City – the last time she failed to win more than two […]

World number one Serena Williams was beaten 6-0 6-2 by Simona Halep at the WTA Finals in Singapore to suffer her heaviest defeat since 1998.

The 18-time Grand Slam winner, 33, was 16 when she lost 6-1 6-1 to Joannette Kruger in Oklahoma City – the last time she failed to win more than two games.
The match also provided Romanian Halep, 23, with the best win of her career.
“Embarrassing describes the way I played today,” said Williams, adding she had served better in junior tennis.
The loss in the round-robin match ended Williams’ 16-match winning streak at the end-of-year tournament, where she is the two-time defending champion.
Halep, the fourth seed, allowed her American opponent to win just six points on serve on the way to breaking three times in the first set.
Williams improved in the second set, carving out six break points, but Halep saved them all on the way to sealing the convincing win.
“My forehand was off today again. I guess it went on an early vacation,” added Williams, who said she had served better “in the 10 and under division in juniors”.
Williams, who withdrew from the China Open this month with a knee problem, credited Halep’s performance and said fitness had nothing to do with her loss.
“I think Simona played really well,” she said.
Halep, who was ranked 47 in the world two years ago, said: “It was my best match of my life. I played unbelievable shots. It means a lot this match.”