Match of the day
BBC commentator Sam Smith summed it up nicely. “The greatest performance of her career,” enthused the former British No.1 in wrapping up the ladies’ singles final coverage.
The greatest champions produce their greatest performances on the most important days and biggest stages.
That’s exactly what Simona Halep was able to do when she stepped on to Centre Court with Serena Williams at 2pm on Saturday afternoon.
The 27-year-old made the perfect start that set the tone for the remainder of the contest and didn’t blink when the finish line came into sight, finishing off a remarkable 6-2, 6-2 victory to claim her first Wimbledon title and second Grand Slam crown.
“She literally played out of her mind,” was her victim’s analysis. “Whenever a player plays that amazing you just have to take your hat off.”
Tweet(s) of the day
Special mention
Marathon Wimbledon men’s doubles finals have been a theme recently and this year’s was no different. After four hours and 56 minutes of absorbing tennis it was the Colombians Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal who sank to the Centre Court turf in celebration, disbelief and exhaustion after beating Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 6-3.
The victory makes them Colombia’s first Grand Slam men’s doubles champions. Spare a thought for Mahut, in particular, who was struck on the forehead early in the match, a blow that left him floored and in need of a doctor’s visit and medical timeout.
Later, Mahut again came under attack as he took shots to the chest and groin in consecutive points. Cabal and Farah add the Wimbledon title to recent trophies in Barcelona, Rome and Eastbourne.
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Under the radar
Seventeen-year-old Daria Snigur from Ukraine has had a Fortnight to remember on the grass.
First, she picked up the trophy at last week’s ITF junior event in Roehampton and a week later added another piece of silverware to her hand luggage by beating American No.10 seed Alexa Noel 6-4, 6-4 in the girls' singles final in a repeat of the Roehampton title decider.
The teenager, who ends the British grass season with an unbeaten 12-match win streak, was asked this week where the surface now ranks in her list of favourites.
“Grass, then hard and I hate clay!” she told ITFTennis.com. “I like to [attack] all the time.”
