| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| S. Halep (ROU) (1) | 6 | 6 |
| V. Williams (USA) | 2 | 3 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by S. Halep | 6 - 3 | S. Halep leads 2 to 0 |
| Set won by S. Halep | 6 - 2 | S. Halep leads 1 to 0 |
Simona Halep has moved past Venus Williams with ease in the third round of the Australian Open, winning in straight sets.
Final score
Simona Halep 6 6
Venus Williams 2 3
The world No.1, Simona Halep, takes on a legend of the game in Venus Williams tonight in a battle to make the last 16 of the Australian Open. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7pm (AEDT).
Around this time last year, Simona Halep must have wondered where her first grand slam title would come from.
She managed to work her way through the Australian Open field before losing an epic final to Caroline Wozniacki.
To her credit, her wait didn’t take much longer as she can back from a set down to beat Sloane Stephens in the final at Roland Garros.
Outside her first grand slam title, Halep had a stellar year in 2018, winning in Shenzen and Montreal.
Halep came into the 2019 Australian Open with limited match practice, losing to Ash Barty in Sydney.
As was the case last year, she has come through two tough three-set matches to still be in the running.
You get the feeling it doesn’t get any easier tonight.
Her opponent, Venus Williams, doesn’t really need an introduction.
A winner of seven grand slam singles titles dating back to 2000, the older Williams is loved around the world.
She does play an abbreviated schedule these days, leading to her No.36 world ranking and unseeded status here.
Venus Williams is floater in the draw and, for Halep, this is a dangerous match up.
Williams has also survived two three-set encounters, beating Alize Cornet in the second round.
Prediction
Williams does lead 3-2 in the head to head but, importantly, Halep has won the last two. Their last meeting was in Montreal last year where Halep won 6-2 6-2 on a hard court.
For that reason, I am going to tip Halep tonight. Although, given the trend so far, I think she will take three sets to do it.
Simona Halep in 3 sets.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Stay with me now as Alexei Popyrin takes on Lucas Pouille
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simona Halep was seriously impressive tonight in her straight sets win over Venus Williams. Anyone who thought she may have been underdone was proven wrong. A high first serve percentage, high winner count and low unforced errors. She does have a challenge, taking on the younger Williams sister in the fourth round. Serena may be looking for some family revenge
David Holden
Roar Guru
Williams sends a forehand long. 0-15 Double fault at a bad time and it's 0-30. Ace down the T for 15-30 Double fault and 2 match points. 15-40 Huge forehand return winner. GAME SET MATCH SIMONA HALEP 6-2 6-3 Halep 6 6 Williams 2 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Williams nets the crosscourt forehand. 15-0 Williams controls that point well. 15-15 Double fault and 15-30. Big forehand from Halep draws the error. 30-30 Sliding serve too good. 40-30 Superb work from Halep and she wins serve with the backhand down the line Halep 6 5 Williams 2 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Halep jumps on the short second serve with her forehand. 0-15 Williams nets the backhand. 0-30 Backhand crosscourt from Williams hits the line. 15-30 Wild forehand from Williams and 2 break points. 15-40 Too good on the forehand from Halep and she gets the break and is only 2 games away. Halep 6 4 Williams 2 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Points are a lot shorter in this set and Williams is benefitting from this. Serve down the T draws the error. 15-0 Williams controls the point but misses the easy forehand. 30-0 Deep serve and then Halep wrongfoots Williams with her forehand. 40-0 Double fault and 40-15. Williams nets the forehand and Halep holds. Halep 6 3 Williams 2 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ace for 15-0 Forehand crosscourt from Williams draws the error. 30-0 Halep's approach is too short and Williams hits the crosscourt backhand winner 40-0 Unforced error from Williams. 40-15 Backhand return down the line from Halep. 40-30 Williams attacks the backhand down the line and she holds well. Halep 6 2 Williams 2 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sliding serve draws the error. 15-0 Good serve to the body. 30-0 Great forehand down the line from Halep. 40-0 And now its the backhand winner for 2-2 Halep 6 2 Williams 2 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good first serve wins the point. 15-0 Unforced forehand error from Williams. 15-15 Forehand return is netted. 30-15 Halep jumps over second serve with forehand winner. 30-30 Great forehand return brings up a break point. 30-40 Ace to the backhand court. Deuce Great backhand return and forehand winner. Break point Serve down the T and forehand winner. Deuce Backhand return is netted. Ad Williams Another return hits the net and Williams holds Halep 6 1 Williams 2 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great forehand crosscourt return. 0-15 Big serve to the backhand. 15-15 Williams attack the net and Halep's backhand catches the tape.15-30 Great attacking play from Williams again. 15-40 Halep has erred on her backhand and Williams has broken back Halep 6 1 Williams 2 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Williams to serve Williams sends a forehand long. 0-15 Big serve wide to backhand. 15-15 Forehand winner for 30-15 Ace for 40-15 Off backhand return winner for Halep. 40-30 Great depth from both players before Williams nets a running forehand. Deuce Deep return from Halep forces the error. Ad Halep Forehand error from Halep and she has the early break. Halep 6 1 Williams 2 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
It looks like an easy set but we've got to remember held in 2 service games where Williams had set points Halep 6 0 Williams 2 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Williams is appearing a bit fatigued here and errors are starting to creep in a bit. Halep to serve for the first set. Forehand again long from Williams. 15-0 Deep groundstrokes and forehand winner from Halep. 30-0 Halep sends a forehand wide. 30-15 Good return from Venus forces the error. 30-30 Halep brings up set point with some forehands. 40-30 Great speed on that return from Williams and Halep can't control. Deuce Powerful groundstrokes from Williams. Break back point Backhand crosscourt goes wide and deuce Big ace down the T. Set point Good first serve sets up the forehand winner and Halep has taken the first set 6-2 Halep 6 Williams 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Backhand winner to start. 15-0 Good net work again from Halep. 15-15 Mishit forehand sails out. 15-30 Great forehand down the line from Williams and the put away volley. 30-30 Unforced error from Williams. 30-40 Another unforced error and Halep has the double break Halep 5 Williams 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
This is a high quality match so far. Good points from both players but Halep holds the break early. Good return forces the Halep error. 0-15 Great forehands from Venus but Halep guesses right and hits the forehand winner. 15-15 Forehand winner from Williams after a backhand down the line. 15-30 Another Williams winner, a backhand this time. 15-40 Good first serve. 30-40 Good rally from Halep forcing the error. Deuce Halep drops a forehand into the net. Break point to Williams Williams this time goes for the winner but misses. Deuce Backhand winner down the line from Williams, Break point Great point from Halep and a half volley drop shot to win. Deuce Sliding serve ace and Halep has game point Wild backhand from Williams and Halep has consolidated the break Halep 4 Williams 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Unplayable serve down the T. 15-0 Williams catches the tape with a backhand. 15-15 Another great serve down the T and forehand volley winner. 30-15 Double fault and its 30-30 Good defensive work from Halep before Williams nets a backhand. 30-40 Great point from Halep finished with a backhand crosscourt winner. She has broken Halep 3 Williams 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sliding serve draws the error. 15-0 Williams nets the forehand return. 30-0 Serve into the body sets up that point. 40-0 Williams playing great angles there and forces an error. 40-15 Brilliant off forehand winner from Williams, 40-30 First serve wide to the backhand and Halep holds Halep 2 Williams 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great net work from Williams with a deep volley and smash. 15-0 Halep working Williams around the court well. 15-15 That's a great point. Halep working the angles and Williams finally errs. 15-30 Double fault and two break points. 15-40 Ace down the T saves one. 30-40 Halep nets a forehand down the line. Deuce Sweet backhand winner down the line from Williams. She has the ad First serve and deep groundstrokes force an error from Halep and Williams holds Halep 1 Williams 2