Simona Halep needed just 60 minutes to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals as she thrashed fourth seed Paula Badosa in a devastating display.
Halep, champion in 2019, claimed a 6-1 6-2 win against the error-strewn Spaniard on her return to Centre Court.
The Romanian is the only Grand Slam winner left standing in the women’s singles draw.
She will play Amanda Anisimova next after the American ended Harmony Tan’s run with a 6-2 6-3 win.
Halep did not defend her title in 2020 after the tournament was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and missed last year’s Wimbledon with injury.
“Definitely Centre Court was a place I wanted to be today,” she said.
“I think I played a great match. It is always difficult to play her but it was a pleasure to be back on Centre Court with this great crowd supporting me”
