Serena Williams knocks out Simona Halep in epic Australian Open clash

From the moment these two players were drawn in the same section of the Australian Open – and projected to meet in the last 16 – there had been a sense of anticipation among tennis fans: Williams, the long-time former world number one, taking on the current holder in Halep.

And a match containing fight, drama and high-quality tennis from both players did not disappoint.

Halep admitted before the match that Williams was still the “best player in the world” and she may have proved it with her first win over the number-one ranked player since beating Victoria Azarenka in 2013.

“I really needed to elevate my game,” Williams said.

“She’s the number one player in the world and there’s a reason why. She’s a great player.”

Williams left the Melbourne crowd stunned with the ease which she dismantled Halep’s game, particularly the Romanian’s second serve, in a one-sided opening set.

Halep, who won her maiden Grand Slam at last year’s French Open, broke Williams’s serve to love in the first game – which included a double fault on game point – before the American settled down.

Williams allowed Halep just nine more points on her way to a one-set lead.

On that evidence, those inside Laver who thought the second set would be a formality could have been forgiven.

Yet Halep summoned every bit of her fighting qualities to stay on serve in the second, cutting down the unforced errors and making Williams move more to great success.

With the set still delicately poised, Halep won eight of the final 11 points to force a decider.