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MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams took a big step toward winning a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title on Monday, defeating the top-seeded Simona Halep, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, in a round of 16 slugfest.
“It was really an intense match, some incredible points,” Williams said in an on-court television interview afterward. “I really needed to elevate my game. She is the No. 1 player in the world, and there’s a reason.”
Williams, 37, looked a step slow at the start of the match, losing the opening game with uncharacteristically poor shotmaking and errors.