Serena Williams was defeated 6-0,6-2 by Simona Halep at the WTA Finals in Singapore. The loss in the round-robin match ended the world number one’s 16-match winning streak at the end-of-the-year tournament, which she has won for the last two years, and four times in all.
Fourth-seeded Halep allowed her American opponent to win just six points on serve, on the way to breaking three times in the first set. Williams gained her momentum back in the second set to carve out six break points, but Halep saved them all on the way to sealing the unexpected win.
Meanwhile, world number seven Ana Ivanovic secured her first win in the Red Group in the day’s second match.
Ivanovic recovered from her opening finals loss to record a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and put herself back into contention for a spot among the last-four.
Bouchard has lost both her matches in Singapore and will attempt to gain a consolation win against Williams, before the Red Group concludes with Ivanovic taking on Halep.
STANDINGS
Red Group P W L F A Pts
1. Simona Halep 2 2 0 4 0 4
2. Serena Williams 2 1 1 2 2 2
3. Ana Ivanovic 2 1 1 2 2 2
4. Eugenie Bouchard 2 0 2 0 4 0
White Group P W L F A Pts
1. Agnieszka Radwanska 1 1 0 2 0 2
2. Caroline Wozniacki 1 1 0 2 1 2
3. Maria Sharapova 1 0 1 1 2 0
4. Petra Kvitova 1 0 1 0 2 0
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