Serena left red-faced

A dejected Serena Williams rests during the WTA Finals against Simona Halep in Singapore yesterday. Serena suffered her worst loss in 16 years. PHOTO: AFP

Ecstasy and euphoria are the usual emotions world No. 1 Serena Williams experiences on a tennis court. On Wednesday, she encountered a different one -- embarrassment.

One of the game's all-time greats, a winner of 18 Grand Slam singles crowns, 63 WTA titles, the owner of four Olympic gold medals, Williams has become accustomed to success.

But on Singapore's purple indoor hard court on Wednesday, Simona Halep took her back 16 years to a time when, as a teenager, she was trying to make a name for herself.

Halep's 6-0, 6-2 success in their Red Group clash at the WTA Finals was the worst defeat Williams had experienced since she was crushed 6-1, 6-1 by Joannette Kruger in the quarterfinals at Oklahoma City in 1998.

Halep served well, pushed her opponent around the court and went for her shots, but Williams, by her own admission, was woeful.