Serena Williams Comes Up Short In Wimbledon Finals, Defeated By Simona Halep In Straight Sets

Serena Williams

Serena Williams Comes Up Short In Wimbledon Finals, Defeated By Simona Halep In Straight Sets

Tennis star, Serena Williams entered her 11th Wimbledon Finals match-up in the U.K. against fellow former No. 1 player Simona Halep, defeating Serena in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. In their 56 minute match, Halep, 27, defeated Serena, 37, to win her first Wimbledon championship. After their match, in a post-game up interview, Serena bows out gracefully while congratulating Simona on her first Wimbledon win. She says,

“She literally played out of her mind, congratulations Simona. I was a little bit of deer in the headlights for me, so whenever a player plays that amazing you kind of just have to take your hat off and give them a knot on the head, so congratulations on all the hard work.”

"She literally played out of her mind. Whenever a player plays that amazing you just have to take your hat off"@serenawilliams, sporting in defeat ?#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/vvCcQ25M7n

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019

Serena continues,

“You got to keep fighting and just keep trying and enjoying the sport. I love coming out here and playing in front on you guys, it’s literally a joy! It’s been really fun.”

Serena Williams

After defending who she called one of her inspirations, Simona says on her win,

“I knew that I have to be aggressive, being 100% for every ball, that I don’t have to let her come back to the match because [Serena] is so powerful and so strong. She knows how to manage every moment. So I knew that I have to stay there, which I did pretty well today.”

The moment @Simona_Halep became Romania's first ever #Wimbledon singles champion ?? pic.twitter.com/bny53dP8AL

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019

She continues,

“I’m very sure that was the best match of my life. Also on grass against her is never easy. I’m really proud of my game of today and the whole tournament.”

Although Serena lost, she still managed to make history even before the final started. According to reports, the tennis star has reached at least one major final in 12 consecutive years, which is the second-longest such streak by a woman in the Open era.

Congrats to Simona!