Simona Halep eliminates Victoria Azarenka at Wimbledon

In a match of former Grand Slam champions and World No.1s, No.7 seed Simona Halep eased past Victoria Azarenka and into the round of 16 at Wimbledon, 6-3, 6-1.

From a 3-1 deficit early on, the former French Open champion won six straight games to take command against the two-time Australian Open champion on Centre Court, ultimately easing to victory in just 66 minutes.

Halep hit 13 winners to just nine unforced errors in the match as Azarenka grew more erratic, with the Belarusian totaling 33 unforced errors to just 13 winners.

Azarenka had seven break point chances in the match, but managed to convert on just one, which was her third opportunity overall.

The No.7 seed saved a pair of break points to hold for 1-1 in the opener, but surrendered serve the next time she was challenged to fall behind, 3-1.

From there, however, Halep saved two break points in the sixth game, which would've seen Azarenka lead 4-2, and two more chances at 1-1 in the second set.

The two-time Australian Open champion and World No.40 was looking for her first win against Halep in seven years, having now lost three straight matches to the Romanian, and two straight at Wimbledon.

All three of Halep's victories against Azarenka have been at Grand Slams, with her first coming at the 2015 US Open, and her second coming at Wimbledon in 2017, shortly following Azarenka's return from the birth of her son, Leo.

The No.7 seed advances to a Manic Monday match against 15-year-old American sensation Cori Gauff.