Serena Williams bounces back to defeat Simona Halep in second round – Wimbledon Championships 2011
American number one and defending champion here, Serena Williams got off to a slow start as she bounced back from a set down to do away with Romanian Simona Halep in three sets in their second round match at the 2011 Wimbledon
Championships in London on Thursday, 23rd June.
Serena took almost two hours to register a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory against Halep.
Following in the footsteps of her sister Venus, Serena started her second round match on a low note. Hitting long and wide shots, Serena stumbled against the Romanian as she initially lagged in the set score.
The set started with both players holding their first serve games and comfortably putting themselves onto the scoreboard. However, what followed was complete decimation of the American as she failed to save breakpoints. Broken
once in the fourth game, Serena lagged 1-4 behind Halep. Winning on their serves from there on; Halep was left serving for the set at 5-3. Losing only one point in the ninth game, Halep capitalised on two unforced errors from the American as she sent a thudding
forehand down the line at 40-15 to clinch the first set 6-3.
Hitting half the winners than Serena, Halep went one up in the set score sailing on Serena’s countless unforced errors.
Down but not out, Serena reformed herself in the second set as she came out firing. Turning over the tables, Serena cut down on her unforced errors as she hit a single ace and eleven winners. The American number one converted two
of five breakpoint opportunities to her advantage to clinch the second set 6-2 and level the set score between them.
Having finally found her footing, Serena completely dominated the third set as she clinched early breaks to lead the decider 4-0. Although Halep managed to put herself on the scoreboard on her service game, she still lagged four
games behind. Serving for the set at 5-1, Serena capitalised on Halep’s errant strokes, clinching a breadstick win for herself and sealing her victory for this match.
Serena moves on ahead to play either 26th seed Maria Kirilenko from Russia or Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn. Serena had earlier survived a mid match lapse against French Aravane Rezai in the first round to secure a three
sets victory.
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