London: Simona Halep became the first Romanian woman to reach the Wimbledon final yesterday when she defeated Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-3. The seventh seed, 27, who was French Open champion in 2018, will be playing in her fifth Grand Slam final. "It's an amazing feeling but I am also excited and nervous. It is one of the best moments of my life," said Halep.

Halep's tactics work
"The match was not easy, the games were long and went deep. "I fought hard to win this match and I was strong mentally and physically and had the right tactics." Halep will face seven-time champion Serena Williams, who made short work of plucky unseeded Czech Barbora Strycova, whose experience of her first ever Grand Slams singles semi-final in her 53rd campaign lasted just under an hour as she lost 6-1, 6-2.