World No 1 Serena Williams suffered one of the heaviest defeats of her long and illustrious career as she was humbled 6-0, 6-2 by Romanian Simona Halep at the WTA Finals on Wednesday.
The 18-times grand slam winner won only nine points in the opening set as her game deserted her in alarming fashion. The American’s two games won equalled her career worst.
The last time Williams managed to win just two games in a WTA Tour or grand slam match was in 1998 when she was just 16, a 6-1, 6-1 loss to Joannette Kruger in Oklahoma City..
The double defending champion, who was on a 16-match winning streak in the event, served seven double faults and struggled for any rhythm with her groundstrokes as the world No 4 claimed a famous first win over the 33-year-old American.
The most formidable serve in women’s tennis deserted Williams, who was broken five times.
“My serve was at best in the 10 and under division in juniors,” Williams quipped after the match.
“Yeah, it was actually embarrassing,” she added. “Yeah, very embarrassing.”
Halep had never before beaten a top-three ranked opponent and in her previous two matches against Williams, both last year, she had won an aggregate of just seven games.
The 23-year-old was the aggressor all the way, moving Williams, 10 years her senior and the oldest competitor in Singapore, from corner to corner with pinpoint ground strokes.
The Romanian, who also won convincingly against Eugenie Bouchard in her opening round-robin match, moves to a 2-0 record in the Red Group while Williams slips to 1-1.
Williams can still make it through to the semi-finals of the season ending event but she will need to beat Bouchard on Thursday.
Halep will finish her group play against Ana Ivanovic, who lost her first match to Williams. Bouchard and Ivanovic face off later Wednesday.
Williams, who withdrew from this month’s China Open with a left knee problem, said fitness had nothing to do with her loss.
“I think Simona played really well and (won) the best match of her career,” she said.
The 6-0 first set was the first time since the 2008 championships that Williams had lost a set by that score, against sister Venus.
“My forehand was off today,” Williams said. “It’s obviously gone on an early vacation.”
For Halep, who was ranked No 47 two years ago, Wednesday’s win over No 1 Williams represented a new career high.
“It was my best match of my life,” Halep said. “I played unbelievable shots. It means a lot this match. At an important time I played really well, and after today my confidence will be more high.”
Halep, runner-up at this year’s French Open, has been careful not to raise her sights too high at this tournament. She remained cautious even after two dominant victories.
“I have confidence I can get to the semi-finals,” Halep said. “First I have to forget this day, but it will be hard to forget. I am so happy.”
Williams was surprised by Halep’s performance, saying “she has never played like this before”.
“To be frankly honest, I am looking forward to our next meeting because she is going to make me go home, train hard and particularly train for her,” Williams said.
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match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
More on Quran memorisation:
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More coverage from the Future Forum
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
