Serena Williams tops Simona Halep for second straight Cincinnati title
MASON, Ohio — Less than two hours after Roger Federer reprised his role as the Western & Southern Open men's champion, world No. 1 Serena Williams did the same as the back-to-back women's winner.
The American gritted out a second-set tiebreak to defeat No. 3 Simona Halep 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) and win a second consecutive title at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.
Williams leaned on the net in elation after Halep's forehand drop-shot fell short and cemented the outcome. Fans happily saluted the winner.
"I've got to say, I don't get support everywhere I play, but I get support here, and it makes me want to come back forever and ever," Williams said.
The 33-year-old became the first player to defend the W&S Open title since it became a WTA event in 2004. She walked away with $495,000 and 900 ranking points, while Halep won $240,500 and 585 ranking points as the runner-up.
Williams started the final match down a break and was unsure how to explain that and other sluggish beginnings during the week.
"Trying to figure that out myself. It's not like I try to get off to a slow start. I had a really good warm-up today. Just didn't work out for me," Williams said.
She recovered quickly to claim the first set and held her ground in the second set despite a contingent of Halep fans that yelled "Si-mo-na!" Fans cheering Williams' name drowned out Halep's supporters when the American took a 5-3 tiebreak lead.
Several points later, Halep's misplayed drop-shot on match point sealed the outcome.
"I don't know why I did (it), but I was tired, and in that moment I thought it's the best idea to give her a drop-shot. But (it) wasn't," Halep said.
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Williams finished with 15 aces throughout and fired 83 winners to Halep's 68. The Romanian thought she played a good match and that Williams, whose serve reached 123 mph, was simply stronger.
"I tried just to keep fighting. It was fine. You know, it's not easy to return her serve," Halep said. "I had chances to break her, but she served really well in important moments."
Looking back, Williams thought a tough three-set quarterfinal match against 2014 finalist Ana Ivanovic helped prepare her for the championship. And Halep, she said, "really tested" her.
"I felt like I was up for the challenge and up for the test," Williams said.
Williams' next test has been the talk of the sport since she won Wimbledon in July. At the U.S. Open, she'll try to become the first player to win a calendar-year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.
"I'm ready," Williams said. "I don't care if I win or lose or break even. I'm ready to start it, get it over with, and be done and go on to the next event. But I'm so ready for New York. Let's go, right?"
Asked what she thinks the U.S. Open will be like, Williams said "it's all up to me."
"If I decide to play right, it'll be great," Williams said. "If I decide to be Baby Rena, then ... I saw someone write that on Instagram. I kind of liked that though. They were calling me out, but I was like, 'They're right.' So, yeah, hopefully Baby Rena won't come out."
Shannon Russell writes for The Cincinnati Enquirer, a Gannett affiliate.