French Open 2018 women's final: Recapping Simona Halep's comeback win against Sloane Stephens

Nick Birdsong

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French Open 2018 women's final: Recapping Simona Halep's comeback win against Sloane Stephens image

She go it.

After three failed grand slam final apearances, Romanian Simona Halep captured her first ever title downing American Sloane Stephens Saturday at Roland-Garros.  

Halep did so in dramatic fashion coming back from down a set and a break to to capture the victory 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Aside from a three-set thriller in the round of 32, when she won 8-6 in the third to defeat Camila Giorgi, Stephens has cruised through the competition, dropping just one set on her way to the final. Halep's only difficuly came into the third round when she dropped the first set before rallying to down German Angelique Kerber. 

FRENCH OPEN 2018: Results, schedule how to watch live at Roland Garros

French Open 2018 women's final: TV info, live streaming

The match began at 9 a.m. ET Saturday. NBC will air it live and stream it on  NBC Sports Live Extra . 

French Open 2018 women's final matchup

American Sloan Stephens ranked, No. 10 in the world, was seeking her career grand slam after winning the U.S. Open last year. Top-ranked  Simona Halep won for her first major title in her fourth final appearance. 

French Open 2018 women's final: Live updates, highlights

Scroll down to see live updates and highlights. 

11:14 a.m.— Simone Halep completes the improbable comeback to win the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 and captured her first grand slam title. 

 

 

11:02 a.m.— Halep tacks on the insurance of a double break and leads 4-0. 

 

 

10:53 a.m.— Stephens' backhand clips the net at 40-3-0 and Halep holds serve to take a 3-0 lead in the third. 

10:50 a.m.— Stephens is falling apart as Halep takes an early 2-0 lead in the third set. 

10:37 a.m.— Halep breaks Stephens' serve to take the second set 6-4. We're headed for a third and decisive set of action. 

10:22 a.m.— Just. Like. That. Stephen breaks back and trails 4-3 with a chance to even the set on serve. 

10:20 a.m.— Woah! Halep breaks Stephens' serve and takes a 4-2 lead in the second after trailing 2-0 to start the set. 

10:12 a.m.— Stephens commits just her third double fault of the entire tournament on her way to dropping four-straight points and the match the second set is tied at 2-2. 

10:00 a.m.— Stephens wins a pair of masterful points, toppped off by an inconquerable lob that Halep just couldn't get to earn and early break and go ahead 1-0 in the second. It's beginning to look like easy work for Stephens as she outclasses Halep. 

9:53 a.m.— Stephens fights off a break point to force deuce then wins back-to-back points to hold serve and take the first set 6-3. The 25-year-old Floridian is halfway to her second grand slam title. 

9:42 a.m.— Stephens falls behind 15-30, but reels off three-straight points to take a commanding 5-2 lead and earn her first crack at winning the match's opening set. 

9:35 a.m.— Stephens holds serve to go up 4-1. The American has won 83 percent of the points when she's got her first serve in. 

 

 

9:29 a.m.— Sloan Stephens earns the first break of the match to take a 3-1 lead in the first set. 

9:19 a.m.— Halep holds serve after Stephens brings the Romanian to 40-40 in her first serivce game. Halep finally forces an error to win a 26-stroke rally and push the score to 1-1. 

Nick Birdsong