Halep Qualifies for WTA Finals with win over Keys in Wuhan

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Halep Qualifies for WTA Finals with win over Keys in Wuhan

Simona Halep became the third player to qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore on Thursday in Wuhan with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Madison Keys. The Romanian has now qualified in each of the last three years and owns a 4-4 lifetime record at the event.

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Halep improves to 43-14 on the season with her win over Keys, and she has now earned five Top 10 wins in 2016.

The 25-year-old has put health issues behind her in the second half of the season and she has now won 24 of her last 27 matches. She is one of four players to have won three titles on tour this season.

“I’m happy, very happy, because it’s the third year in a row,” said Halep. “That means a lot for me.”

Halep won for the third time in three matches against Keys in 2016. She broke open a tight first set by lacing a backhand winner down the line to take a 5-4 lead, then served out the set to 15.

Halep saved the only break point she faced in set three and won 9 of 11 second serve return points against Keys. She broke twice in two opportunities and sealed the victory in 70 minutes.

Halep will face Petra Kvitova for a spot in the final. Kvitova worked her way past Great Britain’s Johanna Konta, 6-3, 6-4. The Czech will bid to reach her first final of 2016.

There are still five spots remaining for this year’s WTA Finals at Singapore. Next week the Tour moves to Beijing for the China Open.

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