It wasn’t easy, but Simona Halep defeated Sloane Stephens 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-2 in the women’s singles final of the Rogers Cup.
Halep got off to a good start in the first set. She broke two of Stephens’ serves to take a 4-1 lead. But Stephens returned the favor, breaking Halep’s next two serves and holding her own to tie the set, 4-4.
After each broke the next two serves, Stephens won her serve to put her up, 6-5. Halep battled back in the next game, holding two set points from Stephens, to set up a tiebreak.
Stephens got off to a quick start in the tiebreak, leading 5-1 before the change of ends. But by the second change of ends, Halep rallied back to even the tiebreak, 6-6, and held another two set points from Stephens. Halep won the next two points to give her the match’s first set.
.@Simona_Halep saves four set points to take the opening set, 7-6(6)!
— WTA (@WTA) August 12, 2018
The World No.1 is a set from another @CoupeRogers title! pic.twitter.com/8WaplIYIGv
Both players broke serve in the first three games of the second set, which gave Stephens a 2-1 lead. Things changed in the next five games as both players were able to hold serve, giving Stephens a 5-3 lead in the set.
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But Halep couldn’t hold her serve in the ninth game of the second set. Stephens broke through on her fourth game point to set up the decisive third and final set.
.@SloaneStephens takes the second set, 6-3!
— WTA (@WTA) August 12, 2018
A final set will decide the @CoupeRogers champion! pic.twitter.com/1RHd6y84HU
Halep and Stephens went back-and-forth again in the third set; as each held and broke serve once to split the set’s first four games. Halep finally got in a rhythm, breaking Stephens’ next two serves and holding her own serve. The Romanian sat comfortably, leading 5-2 in the set.
MORE: Genie Bouchard, Sloane Stephens doubles team exit Rogers Cup after quarterfinals loss
Halep forced championship point in the ensuing game, but Stephens ultimately broke her serve. Halep forced three championship points in the proceeding game too, but Stephens rallied bake to hold her serve.
But Stephens couldn’t force another rally on Halep’s fifth championship point as Halep aced Stephens to give her the match.
.@Simona_Halep takes her second @CoupeRogers title!
— WTA (@WTA) August 12, 2018
Outlasts Stephens 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-3, in a high-quality epic! pic.twitter.com/EEyBFULd5q
The ace was Halep’s second of the set and third of the match.
With the win, Halep has now won the last two Rogers Cups in Montreal. She also defeated Stephens in the French Open finals in June.