By Chris Oddo | Thursday June 8, 2017
Simona Halep battled past Karolina Pliskova to set a final clash with Jelena Ostapenko at Roland Garros.
Photo Source: Adam Pretty/Getty
Simona Halep fought off a late push from Karolina Pliskova and defeated the No.2-seeded Czech in three sets to reach her second Roland Garros final in Thurday’s second semifinal on Court Philippe Chatrier.
#RG17: Ostapenko Powers into French Final
The Romanian’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory sets a final clash with 20-year-old Jelena Ostapenko and leaves Halep one victory from her first Grand Slam final and the WTA’s No.1 ranking as well.
Pliskova would have risen to No.1 had she defeated Halep, but she fell to the 25-year-old for the fifth time in six career meetings despite mounting a late rally to force a decider.
The Czech finished with 45 winners to just 14 for Halep, but she made 55 unforced errors to just 14 for Halep.
Halep drew first blood in the final set when she connected on a running forehand winner to break for 3-1.
She consolidated for 4-1 in the next game. Pliskova would break back to get back on serve at 3-4 but Halep took the final two games on the trot to reach the final three years after she was a runner-up in Paris.
Halep improves to 18-2 on clay this season. She will meet Ostapenko for the first time in the final on Saturday. Ostapenko took out Timea Bacsinszky, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3.
More to follow...