Halep believes she can shock Serena and win maiden title

LONDON: Simona Halep is confident she can upset the odds against Serena Williams and land a first Wimbledon title. The numbers do not stack up in the Romanian’s favour ahead of today’s (Saturday) final, with Williams gunning for an eighth title and a record-equalling 24th grand slam singles win.

Halep has one grand slam to her name, the French Open last year, and has beaten Williams only once in 10 meetings, losing the last six. Williams, 37, was close to her ruthless best when dispatching Barbora Strycova 6-1 6-2 in the semi-final. But Halep was almost as impressive in her 6-1 6-3 win over Elina Svitolina and the seventh seed says she is ready to grasp her big opportunity. She said: “Everything is possible. That’s why I started to believe more that even if I play on grass, I have my chance to win.

“I’m in the final, so I will not put pressure on myself. I just want to plan how I have to play in the final, and then enjoy. I’m desperate to win Wimbledon more than to stop her. I will focus on myself. I’m not thinking about her record. Of course, her records are huge already. But it’s not about that. It’s just a tennis match, a big challenge, a great match. So I will try just to give my best.”

Halep’s only success against Williams was a 6-0 6-2 win in the round-robin stages of the 2014 WTA Finals in Singapore. Yet that defeat still rankles the American, who is taking nothing for granted as she attempts to pull level with Margaret Court’s record tally of grand slam titles.

“There’s so many impressive things about her,” said Williams. “I think obviously her tenacity. I think her ability to improve every time, just to keep improving. Her ability to find power. You can’t underestimate her. She’s like a little powerhouse.

“She finished the year as number one twice in a row. I feel like she’s back. She wants to prove that she can do it again. I think the biggest key with our matches is the loss that I had. I never forgot it. She played unbelievable. That makes me know that level she played at, she can get there again. So I have to be better than that.”