Superb Simona Halep through to Wimbledon final

Simona Halep has reached her first Wimbledon final by beating Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-3 on Centre Court.

Halep needed 74 minutes to defeat the world number eight and set up a final match-up against Serena Williams or Barbora Strycova.

The first two games took over 20 minutes. Halep held the opener after three break points and took a two-game lead when she converted break point at the third time of asking.

Svitolina replied immediately with a break to love, but Halep won four games in a row to take the opening set despite Svitolina saving five set points.

The Ukrainian improved on her serve in the second set, holding on the way to 3-3 but Halep turned the screw from there on in to break and then hold for 5-3. With Svitolina serving to stay in the match, Halep took a 15-40 lead. First match point saved, but the world number seven made no mistake with the second to book her place in the final.

Cover Photo: Tatiana from Moscow, Russia [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons