Good morning, and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Simona Halep against Serena Williams.

"She's the number one player in the world, there's a reason why...she's just a great player," says Williams, paying tribute to Halep. "I'm such a fighter, I just never give up. I don't know. It's definitely something that's innate...It's a miracle that I'm here." That's a nod to how poorly she was after giving birth to daughter Olympia.

"It was a really intense match, some incredible points. I love playing tennis, I love being here, I love this court," says Serena.

Serena pats her vanquished rival on the shoulder as they head to their chairs. They know how well the other has played today.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 4-6 WILLIAMS: Two match points as Williams sends Halep across the court once more, and a loose return from the Romanian hands her the match. Wha a brilliant encounter. The pair shake hands at the net and beam at each other - tremendous respect between the pair evidently.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 4-5 WILLIAMS: Tremendous first serve from Halep in this game, holding to love. If she'd had that in the first set maybe we'd have a different kind of match on our hands.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 3-5 WILLIAMS: A squeal as Halep has to stretch to get anywhere near the Williams serve, and the American is within one game of the match.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 3-4 WILLIAMS: There is the break. Serena is playing magnificently, Halep is playing magnificently. This is such a great match, get Eurosport Player on if you can.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 3-3 WILLIAMS: What a forehand down the line from Halep, and some great movement from her too. And then another net cord winner, which triggers the response, "That's not fair!" from Serena, with a wry expression. But Williams is the one who takes the game, hitting the line with accuracy.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 3-2 WILLIAMS: The determined face of Halep is something to see. A bit of a fist-pump here as she holds to love.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 2-2 WILLIAMS: A hold to love for Serena and who'd bet against a tiebreak now?

HALEP 1-6 6-4 2-1 WILLIAMS: This is great from Halep. This is also the longest WIlliams has been on court so far this tournament - a whole hour and a quarter.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 1-1 WILLIAMS: Serena roars as Halep makes her work to hold serve. This is becoming a really tough duel and both players are stepping up the effort and the brilliance.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 1-0 WILLIAMS: Incredible return speed from Serena Williams, but even so it's not enough to break the serve of Halep, who's stepped it up and hoicked up the volume.

Serena has put her hair up now. She is focused.

HALEP 1-6 6-4 WILLIAMS: Tremendous down-the-line hitting from Halep gives her set point, and she does so well to take that chance! Williams is on the back foot as the world number one turns up the aggression.

HALEP 1-6 5-4 WILLIAMS: Halep is managing the court much better than she was in the first set, taking her time to make her shots, and she's benefiting from it.

HALEP 1-6 4-4 WILLIAMS: You've got to smile, unless you're Simona Halep. Serena Williams challenges an out call on her serve, but the line judge was correct. So Williams just sends down an ace to wrap up the game.