Halep Dismisses Keys To Reach Wuhan Semifinals
Romania’s Simona Halep put on a clinical performance on Thursday, rolling past American Madison Keys 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Wuhan Open semifinals.
It wasn’t smooth sailing from the start, as twice Keys took the break advantage. But Halep continued to push through, converting on three break points to win the opening set.
She carried that momentum into the second set, saving the only break point she faced and converting on her two break chances to cruise to the straight-set victory, the third time she has beaten Keys in 2016.
“It was a great match for me,” said Halep. “I played really well. I knew she would be very tough because she’s strong and serves really well. But I was moving well and I enjoyed my time on court.”
With the victory, Halep qualifies for the end-of-the-year WTA Finals in Singapore for the third year in a row.
“I knew before the match that I’d qualify if I won today,” added Halep. “I’m really happy that I did it. It’s amazing to be playing three years in a row in Singapore. I hope this year I do better than last, that I enjoy my time on court, and that I’m happy, because when I’m happy I play well.”
Before Singapore though, Halep is focusing on her run in Wuhan, which continues with a semifinal match against Petra Kvitova. The 14th seeded Czech followed up her victory over world number one Angelique Kerber on Wednesday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over 11th seed Johanna Konta on Thursday.
Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova continued her domination over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, fighting back from a set down to upend the third-seed 1-6, 7-6(9), 6-4.
Kuznetsova has now beaten Radwanska in eight of their last nine meetings.
“I was getting better as the match was going on,” said Kuznetsova. “Aga played well in the first set, but I wasn’t moving so well. In the second set I wasn’t playing my best game. But I was trying to stay in there, trying to fight, trying to be smart and turn things around. Then I served good in the third set and took control of the game.”
Kuznetsova moves on to play the winner of 10th seed Dominika Cibulkova and Barbora Strycova in the semifinals.
