TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – Simona Halep demolished last year’s finalist at Wimbledon Sabine Lisicki 6-4 6-0 to reach her first ever semifinal at the Championships. Giulio Gasparin
Results, Order of Play, Draws and Interviews from The Championships
The Roland Garros finalist recovered from 4-1 down in the first set proving great fighting spirit and a terrific game plan to win the next 11 games and comfortably conquer the penultimate stage of this slam.
Halep, who had never gone further than the second round previously to this year, was the highest seed left on the draw after the early losses of Serena Williams and Li Na, but as she said, she felt no extra pressure as it was the same at the French Open.
However, she started the match showing little nerves as she needed a few games to cut down the errors, also because of a gushing start from Lisicki.
The German, whose game seems always to pick up for the Championships, had a terrific start with winners coming from both wings early in the rallies, but after clinching a 3-0 lead, it was clear that Halep was not to give up.
The Romanian found better aggression and starting from a more efficient first serve, she started to get into the mind of Lisicki, who suddenly collapsed under the pressure of an opponent, who was missing nothing and was ready to kill every easy ball given.
With a majestic couple of games, Halep recovered the 4-1 gap and flew to a 6-4 win in the first set.
Lisicki was then the first one to serve in the second set and it appeared clear that the outcome of this game could have been fundamental for the match.
The German had game points, but a couple of bad misses cost her the game and suddenly it seemed as if there was nothing she could do to stop her Romanian opponent.
Halep showed the best of her game to finish the job in less than one hour, especially by hitting winners with her forehand on the second serves of the last year’s finalist.
The point of the match came on the very last chance, when Lisicki tried a desperate reaction but it was stopped by an unbelievable defence from the world number three.
For the grass court specialist, it was the first ever bagel received on this slam.
Halep will play tomorrow against Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, at her third straight slam semifinal, for a chance to win her first slam title.
