Former world  No 1tennis player Simona Halep won her first Wimbledon title after beating another former No 1, Serena Williams.

The Romanian crushed Serena Williams’ latest bid for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam success with a devastating 56-minute display of athleticism.

Simona Halep, 27, won 6-2,6-2, in front of an incredulous Centre Court, running after everything the American threw at her.

“It was my best match,” she said after her second Grand Slam title following her 2018 French Open success.

For Serena Williams, 37, it was a third major final defeat in 12 months.

“She played out of her mind, it was a little bit deer in the headlights for me,” she said.

French Open 2018: Simona Halep Wins Her First Grand Slam Title After Beating Sloane Stephens

Indian Wells 2015: Simona Halep wins BNP Paribas Open final after beating Jelena Jankovic

WTA Finals 2014: Simona Halep beats Serena Williams with 6-0, 6-2

Serena Williams, like in last year’s final defeat by Angelique Kerber, seemed weighed down by public and personal expectations as she quickly fell 4-0 behind in the opening set.

Simona Halep had said beforehand that she had no pressure on her and that is exactly how she played.

Defeat means Serena Williams’ wait for a first Grand Slam title since becoming a mum continues, as does her pursuit of an eighth Wimbledon singles title.

Simona Halep had lost nine of her previous 10 meetings with Serena Williams.

She has now won the past two Grand Slam finals she has appeared in, having been defeated in the three before that. Serena Williams has lost her past three.

Although 56 minutes is a quick victory, it is some way off the fastest Grand Slam final win – Steffi Graf’s 34-minute French Open win of 1988.

Simona Halep, who began the championships as world No 7, will rise to No 4 when the next rankings are published on Monday, July 15.