It was a long awaited but well deserved first Grand Slam title for Halep.
When Simona Halep lost the first set on Saturday, it looked like the match will end in familiar heartache for the third time finalist.
Just a year ago, Halep had lost to a 20-year-old, unseeded opponent despite leading 6-4, 3-0 in the final. This year she had already lost the first set, was a break down in the second and her opponent was the reighing US Open champion.
However, the world number one Romanian turned the tide and wore down Sloane Stephens for a 3-6 6-4 6-1 victory.
It was a long awaited but well deserved first Grand Slam title for Halep.
Her first Grand Slam final appearance had come four years ago in Paris when she lost to Maria Sharapova. Three years later she suffered the above-mentioned heartbreaking loss.
Halep made it to her third Grand Slam final earlier this year at the 2018 Australian Open but the victory eluded her again.
These losses must have been in back of her mind as she battled Stephens on Saturday.
Welcome Win
When Stephens netted a forehand return on Halep's first match point, the Romanian could finally replace the bitter memories of her first three Grand Slam finals with one she will cherish for the rest of her life.
After consoling Stephens, she climbed into the stands to embrace Romania's former Olympic gymnastics champion Nadia Comaneci and 1978 Roland Garros winner Virginia Ruzici, the last Romanian to win a Grand Slam title.
There was also a big hug for coach Darren Cahill who was in the losers' box last year.
"Thanks guys it was amazing and I felt your support," Halep, who lost this year's Australian Open final to Caroline Wozniakci, said on court. "In the last game I couldn't breathe, I just didn't want to repeat what happened the other years."
Halep's win was one of the most popular for many years at Roland Garros and at times during the match the support for the 26-year-old was deafening.
"Congratulations to Simona. There is no-one else I'd rather lose to than the number one in the world," a gracious Stephens, who will rise to four in the rankings, said.
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 "Simona Halep")
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