FINALLY: SIMONA HALEP WINS FRENCH OPEN

Simona Halep ended her long and painful wait for a first Grand Slam title as she beat Sloane Stephens in the final of the French Open.

The world No. 1 – a runner-up at

Roland Garros in 2017 – had lost three major finals heading into this meeting with the US Open champion and it looked as if she was on her way to a fourth heartbreaking defeat.

Stephens – who had never lost a professional final at any level – began the match in brilliant fashion and led by a set and a break, with Halep on the brink, but the plucky Romanian fought her way back into the contest.

And after two previous losses in the final at Roland Garros, she finally was able to get her hands on the trophy with a 3-6 6-4 6-1 win.

The win comes just a year on from a devastating upset against Jelena Ostapeno, where she had looked firmly in control of her own destiny with a set and a break lead only to throw it away.

But the ever-resilient Halep continued to fight and has now claimed her reward as she became the first Romanian Grand Slam champion for 40 years.

Despite defeat, it’s been an excellent fortnight for Stephens and she will debut at world No. 4 to become the top-ranked player from the USA.

But the manner of the loss will no doubt hurt, having looked in complete control at 6-3 2-0 up before slumping to a first defeat in a final.

For Halep, her long-awaited victory will be poetic justice for many. And her fightback from a set and a break down showed immense heart once more to finally end her Grand Slam curse.

Stephens settled into the final the better of the pair, but there were some fabulous early rallies as both tried to take chunks out of one another.

The duo showed equal brilliance in attack and defence, but Stephens just looked so effortless in her endeavours.

Indeed, it was the American who clinched the lead after some more lengthy rallies as she netted a forehand.

More gut-busting exchanges followed, with Halep defending heavy blows continuously from the elegant US Open champion, but she often faltered when on the offensive.

After keeping herself in touch, the 26-year-old set up her first break point opportunity of the match but Stephens held and clinched the first set.

The first game of the second set immediately dwarfed the entirety of the opener in terms of break point chances, with Halep eventually crumbling as the 25-year-old got the breakthrough.

On the brink, the world No. 1 came roaring back. She broke to love and for the first time in the match was in the ascendancy.

With Stephens looking fatigued all of a sudden, Halep struck again to move 4-2 up.

Though the new US No. 1 reacted sharply to break back immediately, the top seed struck again at the death to level the match.

This was the first time an encounter between the pair had gone the distance and it was Halep who stormed to victory with a double break.

(METRO UK)