Australian Open 2018 women’s final: Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki vie for maiden grand slam title
Caroline Wozniacki is the new Australian Open champion after an epic, drama-filled final at Rod Laver arena.
Welcome to The Australian’s live coverage of the Australian Open women’s singles final between world No.1 Simona Halep, of Romania, and world No.2 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.
10.47pm: ‘I’m sorry I won’
New Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki has apologised to runner-up Simona Halep over her epic win at Rod Laver Arena tonight.
“I’ve dreamed of this moment for many years,” a tearful Wozniacki told the crowd while clutching her maiden slam trophy. “It is a dream come true.”
“To Simona, I’m sorry that I had to win today... but I’m sure we’ll have many matches (in the future)”
Though the line got laughs from the stands, Wozniacki knows only too well the pain of being ranked world No.1 without a grand slam title to her name. Halep, who spent 67 weeks as the top seeded female without a title, now relinquishes her ranking to Wozniacki, who also walks away with a cool $4m in tournament prizemoney.
The Dane thanked her team, including her father, and her fiance, champion NBA basketballer David Lee, who she credited with settling her nerves.
“I was a nervous wreck this morning. You calmed me down,” she said.
Afterwards she told Channel Seven what went through her mind when Halep’s ball hit the net on championship point.
“I just kept thinking: ‘This can’t be real, this can’t be real’.
“It was a crazy match.
“It was hot, we had crazy rallies, long rallies.”
10.42pm: ‘Hopefully I’ll be back’
Collecting her runner up trophy and a $2m cheque, a gracious and composed Simona Halep thanked her opponent for a great match and a great tournament.
“It’s not easy to talk now but I want to congratulate Caroline, she played amazing.
“Of course I’m sad I couldn’t win today but Caroline was better than me. I have many years to go and hopefully I will face a challenge like this again.
“All over the world I have great support ... and hopefully I will see you next year in the same position.
10.24pm: Wozniacki wins!
After a Halep forehand into the net on championshop point, the great Dane collapses sobbing onto the court before grasping for her dad in the coaching box.
Finally, she’s slayed her grand slam demon and done it. The final scoreline: 7-6, 6-3, 6-4
“We have seen one of the great finals,” says Sam Smith.
10.20pm: Evenly matched
How’s this for a fun — and exhausting — fact: Just seven metres separates Halep and Wozniacki in the distance covered by the pair on court tonight.
Halep has run 3397 metres in nearly three hours of play to Wozniacki’s 3390 metres, according to Channel Seven’s player tracker.
Wozniacki meanwhile is serving for the match. She’s up 5-4 in the third set and the tension is palpable.
This end of match #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3t2zI6A6U1
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) January 27, 2018
10.08pm: Wozniacki receiving treatment
Now it’s Woz’s turn.
The Danish superstar, who has struggled with knee trouble in the past, has called for a trainer and taken what appear to be anti-inflammatory tablets for a knee problem that may have flared mid-way through the second set.
The drama comes as Halep noses in front for the first time in the match. With a set apiece, the Romanian now leads 4-3.
“Trust me there are serious demons on this court right now,” says Rennae Stubbs.
9.52pm: Halep breaks back... again
This 23-shot rally brings the crowd to its feet and really sums up the level of tennis being played in this final. Neither player has given an inch tonight.
Wozniacki leads 3-2 in the third set
23 shot rally and the crowd are on their feet. What a final this has been. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/XnqnjqIDGF
— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 27, 2018
9.33pm: ‘Too exhausted to lift the trophy’
Wozniacki is trying to take control of the third set, winning the first two games in quick succession.
“Whoever does get that trophy tonight... will be so exhausted they won’t be able to lift it up after everything they’ve been through,” says Seven commentator Sam Smith.
Courtney Walsh 9.23pm: The deciding set
Despite showing signs of heat stress, Simona Halep has managed to send her Australian Open final against Caroline Wozniacki into a deciding set.
The world No. 1 seizes the initiative midway through the set and closed it out on her third set point 6-3.
Both players have now left the court for a ten minute break, with the heat policy now in place on a stifling night in Melbourne.
Wozniacki continues to strike the ball with precision down the line, a riskier path but one which has reaped rewards on a regular basis.
Halep was under pressure on serve at 1-all but managed to save break points with some strong hitting from the baseline and serving that drew errors from her rivals forehand.
Having edged ahead 3-2, she called for the trainer.
During the subsequent medical time-out, Halep has her blood pressure taken while an ice vest was applied.
And two games later she began to shoe signs of discomfort in her left leg, yet was able to seize a critical break that allowed her an opportunity to extend the final to a third set.
The Dane went on the offensive in the following game but Halep, who appeared to be cramping, was able to dig deep enough to save a break point and claim the set.
9.08pm: Centre court ‘is an oven’
Halep is back on court and leading 5-3 in the second set despite moving a little unsteadily on her feet at times and being in obvious discomfort.
Conditions on centre court at Rod Laver Arena have been described as an “oven”.
Halep, who has spent more time on counrt than her opponent this tournament is clearly at a disadvantage but her world No.1 credentials are really on display here. She’s now serving for the set.
🇷🇴 @Simona_Halep gets the break and will serve for the 2nd set!
— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 27, 2018
Watch live on Seven and the #7Tennis app: https://t.co/rHeId6I4CQ pic.twitter.com/ElXx2nd7Hi
8.52pm: Halep calls for the physio
The world No.1 leads 3-2 in the second set but has called for the physio. The problem is not clear but she’s having her blood pressure taken and a general medical check.
The heat rule is in play as extreme humidity grips Melbourne, where the mercury is still a stifling 31C after sundown.
“She’s up against one of the fittest women on the planet,” says Stubbs, referencing Wozniacki’s debut New York marathon run in 2014 in under 3.5 hours.
8.42pm: Halep is digging deep
We could be in for a long night if this game is any indication.
Break-point down for the fourth time, Halep just keeps digging and eventually hangs on to lead the second set 2-1.
“She is going all over the court, she doesn’t really know where to go,” says commentator Rennae Stubbs of the diminutive Romanian.
“I think neither of them know where to go because both sides are so solid now.”
After a marathon service game lasting over 11 minutes, 🇷🇴 @Simona_Halep holds and leads 2-1. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/4CaCt9tJch
— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 27, 2018
Courtney Walsh 8.27pm: First set to Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki has started impressively in her high stakes Australian Open final against Simona Halep, claiming the first set in a tiebreaker.
With the world’s top ranking on the line, both women are seeking their maiden grand slam title tonight and produced a compelling opening set worthy of the occasion.
There were several points where both women were stretched far and wide, but it is Wozniacki who ultimately landed a significant blow.
Twice a finalist in the US Open, Wozniacki started swiftly, claiming the opening three games in ten minutes.
Her backhand, which has always been reliable, proved a driving force early as she dictated play, while her vastly improved forehand also proved pivotal.
The Romanian was able to hold serve in the fourth game but was wildly erratic off the ground in the early stages.
But the current world No. 1 showed signs of coming to life with an impressive game to move to 4-2, hitting four winners.
It was an indication that she had found her rhythm and range.
A critical point in the set in the following Wozniacki service game earned a standing ovation, with the two women covering an incredible amount of court in the 17 shot rally before the world No. 2 claimed it at the net.
It was an important point for Wozniacki, because the surging Halep have been right in the service game had she managed to win it.
As it stands, last year’s French Open finalist was able to retrieve the break when Wozniacki was serving for the set at 5-3.
While the Dane saved two break points, the weight of shot and pressure Halep applied eventually drew an error on the forehand side.
But Wozniacki was superb through the tiebreaker, playing aggressively but also defending superbly when claiming it 7-2.
What nerves!?
— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 27, 2018
🇩🇰 @CaroWozniacki wins a brilliant first set 7-6 in 50 minutes. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/A7jwaPgPh4
8.18pm: Tiebreak
Halep is giving very little away, forcing a tiebreaker, which Wozniacki now leads 5-2. Fans are being treated to some proper championship tennis here with 15 and 19-shot rallies really amping up the crowd.
8.09pm: Halep breaks back
The women are pretty evenly matched in the unforced errors front, Halep leading 10 to Wozniacki’s 8.
The world No.2 has expressed some frustration at crowd noise interfering with her service game.
“I see players doing that and I am a little surprised,” courtside commentator Rennae Stubbs says of Wozniacki’s complaint to the chair umpire.
“It’s a bit like they are looking for excuses.”
Perhaps she was justified though, having just lost her service game on the cusp of taking the first set.
Halep is now serving to level the first set.
“There are so many Romanians in the crowd and at thimes they have really bothered Wozniacki,” says Stubbs.
8pm: What a rally!
A brilliant 17-shot cross-court rally is the point of the match so far, won eventually by Wozniacki, who leads 5-2.
“These two are showing that winning is not all about power and I think it will be interesting to see which direction women’s tennis takes over the next 10 years,” says Channel Seven commentator Sam Smith.
What a rally! Incredible tennis from both 🇩🇰 @CaroWozniacki and 🇷🇴
— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 27, 2018
@Simona_Halep. ðŸ‘@LottolandAU #Kenoland pic.twitter.com/ol0rePCQXN
7.40pm: Wozniacki off to early lead
In a confident start, Caroline Wozniacki has broken serve and leads 3-1 in just 10 minutes of play.
The Dane appears to have relaxed much more quickly than Halep, who is showing flashes of agressive play but is yet to find her rhythm.
The heat in Melbourne has been dire again this evening. Wozniacki came out from the dressing rooms draped in an ice towel before the match had even begun. It’s still 32C.
Halep’s coach Darren Cahill has told the New York Times his charge spent months recovering from the hurt of her French Open finals loss to Jelena Ostapenko, to whom the led 3-1 in the final set before losing the final five games.
“She had tears a lot of nights for months after that with the memory of that and being so close and playing so well, and that one sort of slipping through her fingers,” Cahill was quoted as saying
“But I give her credit. With all the sorts of kicks in the stomach she’s had, to be able to keep coming out and keep putting herself in positions and keep winning and keep doing what she has done, it shows she has a remarkable strength inside.”
7.25pm: It’s showtime
The trophy has come out and formalities are underway at Rod Laver Arena.
Both players are making their way down the tunnel towards centre court. Both look nervous.
Halep has spoken candidly this week about her battles to keep her composure, which saw coach Darren Cahill part ways with her unless she cleaned up her act and reign in her temper. She says the tactic worked, the pair reconciled and she’s vowed to remain positive since.
Who will lift the 2018 @AustralianOpen women's singles trophy? ðŸ†
— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 27, 2018
🇷🇴 @Simona_Halep vs 🇩🇰 @CaroWozniacki is LIVE NOW on Seven and the #7Tennis app: https://t.co/rHeId6I4CQ pic.twitter.com/LrZY46d69B
SO MUCH AT STAKE
Well, this should be interesting.
Along with the $4 million winner’s cheque and all-important maiden grand slam title, also up for grabs tonight is the world No.1 ranking.
Not since Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova in an Australian Open decider in 2015 have we seen a contest between the world’s top two players.
One woman will etch her name into the history books and shed an unwanted epithet that is attached to both their resumes, namely that of occupying the world’s top ranking without winning one of the four prestigious grand slam titles.
Tonight’s combatants feature among the eight women to ascend to the top of their sport without claiming Wimbledon or an Australian, French or US Open.
Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Amelie Mauresmo reached the peak before confirming their greatness with major success.
Either Halep or Wozniacki will join them tonight.
Of the two, bookies’ favourite Wozniacki has 27 career tiltles to her name, almost twice that of her opponent. However, Halep’s career-to-date prizemoney of $29m is not too shy of Wozniacki’s $33.6m, despite the Romanian’s controversial lack of a major sponsor. She revealed earlier this week that since an endorsement deal with Adidas expired, she has been sourcing her tournament outfits from a seamstress in China.
Wozniacki, 27, has long carried the unwanted moniker of best player never to claim a major, having reached the US Open final in 2009 and 2014, and first becoming No.1 in 2010.
She is in her 43rd Grand Slam appearance and desperate to get off the mark.
“I always believed in myself,” she said. “I knew that if I can stay healthy and I work hard, my game is good enough for it.”
Her hard work was rewarded with a renaissance in 2017, reaching eight finals — winning in Tokyo and at the season-ending WTA Finals, where she banished another hoodoo by registering a first career win over Venus Williams.
She continued her sparkling form at the start of this year and has 10 wins and only one defeat, to Julia Goerges in the warm-up Auckland final.
The gritty Halep, 26, made her only previous Grand Slam final appearances at Roland Garros in 2014 and 2017.
The Romanian, coached by Australian Darren Cahill who took Lleyton Hewitt to world No.1 and a Wimbledon title, has only beaten Wozniacki twice in their six previous matches, the most recent meeting ending in a 6-0, 6-2 battering by the Dane at the 2017 WTA Finals in Singapore.
“The way she’s playing, she’s not missing,” said Halep of Wozniacki, who has prepared for tonight’s final with a gentle hit and a spot of gambling at Crown Casino.
“She’s running very well. So she’s a strong opponent. I played her many times. I won against her few times.
“It’s going to be a different match. Emotions are there. Pressures are there for both of us. We’ll see what is going to happen.”
Add your comment to this story
‘We’ve been played’: Kyrgios roasts Sinner over doping saga reunion
Nick Kyrgios has slammed a move from Jannik Sinner to reunite with the fitness coach he sacked in 2024 after it was revealed that the Italian had tested positive for doping.
Venus effect in full show as 45-year-old ends 16-month layoff
Venus Williams has made her return from a 16-month layoff at the DC Open, wowing a capacity crowd in the doubles ahead of her singes comeback.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout