Posted June 10, 2018 10:11:31

World number one Simona Halep has claimed her maiden grand slam title winning the French Open final against tenth seed Sloane Stephens.

She had gone 0-3 in matches with a major trophy on the line before facing Stephens for the Roland Garros title.

"All the experience from those three finals that I lost … was a positive thing and gave me a little bit more power to believe," Halep said.

Halep came back from a set and a break down to beat Stephens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 and win the championship in a match made up of long points and key momentum swings.

Photo: Halep has twice been beaten in finals at the French Open. (AP: Corinne Dubreuil)

"That's the most important thing — that I stay there focused," said Halep, the first Romanian to collect a major title since her manager, Virginia Ruzici, at the 1978 French Open.

"I believed and I never gave up."

Halep lost two previous finals at Roland Garros — against Maria Sharapova in 2014, then Jelena Ostapenko in 2017 despite leading by a set and 3-0 in the second.

Her third runner-up finish came against Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open in January.

Photo: Halep had to fight from a set down to get the win at Roland Garros. (AP: Thibault Camus)

During the trophy ceremony, Stephens — more experienced in such matters, given her triumph in New York last September — noticed that Halep was casually holding her new silver trophy. Stephens indicated to Halep she should raise it proudly overhead.

"You have been waiting for this so you better put it up in the air and show them what you got today," Stephens said.

Photo: Sloane Stephens heaped praise on Halep saying it was a "great moment for her". (AP: Alessandra Tarantino)

Halep has yearned for a grand slam title to go with her WTA ranking.

"Her journey has been tough and she had a heartbreak here last year and in Australia and all the things that have happened to her," Stephens said.

"It's a great story and just a great moment for her."

AP

Topics: tennis, sport, france