Halep was beaten 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 by Caroline Wozniacki in Melbourne as the Dane landed a Grand Slam at the 43rd attempt.

With it she ensured she overtook Halep at the top of the WTA rankings, claiming the No 1 spot when they are officially announced on Monday.

Halep cut an emotional figure in her press conference and admitted she had shed a tear after the defeat.

The Romanian said: "I can still smile. It's fine. I cried, but now I'm smiling.

"It's just a tennis match in the end. But I'm really sad I couldn't win it. I was close again, but the gas was over in the end.

"She was better. She was fresher. She had actually more energy in the end.

" I was really tired. I had so many problems at my feet, pain everywhere. But, you know, I think I did pretty well with all the things that were going on.

"After the first set, I just was out. I don't know what happened. No energy, no power. But then I just said that I have to hit all the balls, and then I could take the second set.

"I came back in the third set, but when I had to serve for 5-3, the gas was gone, so I couldn't make it. It's a bit sad.

"I did 100 per cent what I could. That's why I can say that I'm not sad for that. I'm sad that I lost the match, I was not the winner. But, you know, life goes on.

"For sure in the future, if I keep working like this and I keep playing like this, I will be in a good position again."