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Simona Halep’s show of power and belief helps her realise Wimbledon dream | Sean Ingle

The Romanian has worked on her mentality as well as her groundstrokes and both were in fine fettle as she dismantled the great Serena Williams on Centre CourtIt took 56 minutes into the biggest match of Simona Halep’s career for her legs to go finally wobbly. But at that point her opponent, Serena Williams, was shuffling towards the net, head bowed and hand outstretched. And Centre Court was rising and roaring to salute a performance of staggering intensity.Watching on it seemed impossible that when Halep was a young child in Romania she used to cry before going onto court because she was so shy. Yet on the game’s biggest stage the tiny introvert was transformed into a lion with ice...

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Simona Halep comes of age as she banishes ghosts of grand slams past | Simon Cambers

The world No 1’s coach believes the player can now cut loose after showing new maturity to beat Sloane Stephens at the French Open for her first major titlePerhaps Darren Cahill, the coach of Simona Halep, put it best. “She’s been close these last couple of years, she’s worked really hard for it, she’s been kicked in the stomach a couple of times, when she’s had chances. They say the destination is more beautiful if there’s a bit of a bumpy road and you eventually get there, and that’s what happened to her today. It’s a magical moment for her, she did it the hard way against a great opponent and I’m just really proud of her, and really happy for...

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