ACCORDING to the WTA’s website, women’s tennis pioneer Billie Jean King said recently that she would like to see what Serena Williams could do on the court if she were to put “everything else aside” and “focus on what’s necessary” for her tennis.

King added: “If she’s happy doing it this way, then that’s fine. It’s whatever makes her happy — it’s not about us.”

The last question of Williams’s post-match news conference, following her crushing defeat at the hands of Simona Halep, referenced those comments and asked for a reaction.

“The day I stop fighting for equality and for people that look like you and me,” Williams said, “will be the day I’m in my grave.”

For Williams, who is still aiming for that elusive record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title — Margaret Court holds the record — this loss was not because her mind was elsewhere trying to fight for equality, it was the 26 unforced errors compared to Halep’s three.

“I definitely knew that she was just playing her heart out. I felt like: ‘OK, what do I need to do to get to that level?’” Williams said. “I don’t know if there’s anything I could have done differently.”

After entering the final with a tournament-high 45 aces, Williams only managed two on Saturday.

She was broken in half of her eight service games.

Halep had a lot to do with that.

“I feel like I’m still incredibly competitive or else I wouldn’t really be out here, per se,” Williams said. “For the most part, I feel like I’m on the right track. I’m just going in the right direction in terms of getting back to where I need to be.”

Williams was full of praise for Halep, who was phenomenal on her way to her first WImbledon title.

“She played out of her mind. It was a little bit ‘deer in the headlights’ for me. Whenever someone plays like that you just have to take your hat off and nod your head.”

Halep admitted after that nothing but her best would be good enough to get past Williams.

“I knew that I have to be aggressive, being 100 per cent for every ball, that I don’t have to let her come back to the match because she’s so powerful and so strong,” said the 27-year-old, who won her first slam title at the French Open last summer.

“She knows how to manage every moment. So I knew that I have to stay there, which I did pretty well today. I’m very sure that was the best match of my life.”

Halep, the first Romanian to win a Wimbledon singles title, walked into her post-match press conference with her member’s badge pinned proudly to her top.

“I wanted this badly,” she said. “When I started the tournament, I talked to the people from the locker room that my dream is to become a member here. So today it’s real and I’m really happy.

“I met [chair] Philip [Brook]. He told me: ‘Any time you want, you can come, have dinner, have lunch, playing a little bit of tennis.’ I will come for sure.”

By reaching the final, Halep had fulfilled the dream of her mother Tania, who was watching along with other family members from the stands.

“It was my mum’s dream when I was about 10, 12,” said Halep. “She said if I want to do something in tennis I have to play the final of Wimbledon. So the day came.”