Halep beats Keys to reach Wuhan Open semis and WTA Finals

Reuters: Romania’s Simona Halep downed big-hitting American Madison Keys 6-4 6-2 to reach the last four at the Wuhan Open in China on Thursday and clinch a place at the season-ending WTA Finals.

Halep faces Czech Petra Kvitova, who romped to a 6-3 6-4 victory over Britain’s Johanna Konta, in the semis, while Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova meets Slovak Dominika Cibulkova.

Kuznetsova survived a match point to beat world number four Agnieszka Radwanska 1-6 7-6(9) 6-4 in a thriller and Cibulkova edged Czech Barbora Strycova 6-3 3-6 6-4 in another tight duel.

Fourth seed Halep twice battled back from an early break before finding her rhythm, helped by Keys’ 24 unforced errors, to wrap up the match in just over an hour.

Halep joins Germany’s world number one Angelique Kerber, who was knocked out by Kvitova in the last 16 in China, and Serena Williams at the WTA Finals in Singapore.