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By Chris Oddo | Friday August 18, 2017

 
Simona Halep

Simona Halep edged Johanna Konta in straight sets to reach the semifinal at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Photo Source: Rob Carr/Getty

Simona Halep moved into the semifinals at the Western and Southern Open with a tense but ultimately confidence inspiring 6-4, 7-6(1) victory over Johanna Konta. With the victory the Romanian avenges her loss to Johanna Konta in the Wimbledon quarterfinals—but she had to work through some demons to do it.

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Halep squandered a 5-2 lead in the second set and Konta saved five match points to bring her to a second-set tiebreaker.

The British No. 1 saved two match points with Halep serving at 5-3, then another three to dig out of a 0-40 hole while serving at 5-6.

But Halep never hung her head and took control to play a dominant tiebreaker and seal the victory in one hour and 49 minutes.

She sealed her victory with a forehand winner, and let out a smile of relieve as she glanced toward her coaching box.

“After the match in Toronto I was a little bid down with my confidence, and the first two matches here I was struggling during the match because I couldn’t find the rhythm, but today I played really well and I am thankful with the way I played,” Halep told ESPN after the match.


Halep improves to 2-3 lifetime against Konta and will face American Sloane Stephens in Saturday’s semifinals. The Romanian can climb to No.1 by winning the title in Cincinnati.

Karolina Pliskova, who came through double duty with wins over Camila Giorgi and Caroline Wozniacki on Friday, will face Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the top-half semifinal. Pliskova will remain No.1 as long as Halep does not win the title.

 

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