By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, February 14, 2019

Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber tamed tricky winds and tense tie breaks with fierce staying power in Doha.

The top-seeded Halep saved two set points in the seco nd-set breaker squeezing out a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6) triumph over Julia Goerges to set up a Doha semifinal blockbuster vs. Elina Svitolina.

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Down 4-6 in the second-set tiebreak, the Halep summoned some of her sharpest drives of the match reeling off four straight points to top Goerges for the third time in as many Tour-level meetings. Halep, who will return to world No. 2 when the new rankings are released on Monday, raised her Doha record to 13-3.

Halep converted four of seven break points and finished with a flourish, firing a forehand winner down the line to end a 15-shot rally and close a two-hour triumph.

"I'm very happy," a beaming Halep said afterward. "Honestly, it's been a really tough match. It's always tough to play against her because she has a big serve and forehand. When she has time, she can hit it strong...

"So I didn't give up. I really enjoy to play in Doha so I didn't want to leave."

Neither did Goerges.

The ninth-seeded German, who managed just seven games total in her two prior matches vs. the Romanian, rallied from love-4 down in the opening set.

Showing her explosive athleticism and expansive reach, Goerges saved three set points, including a pair of spectacular stretch volleys, fending off three set points to break for 3-5.

The 2018 WTA ace leader stormed back to force the first-set tie break.

Spreading the court shrewdly, Halep dominated the breaker, converting her fourth set point when Goerges sent a double fault deep.

Realizing she wasn't gaining traction in longer rallies, Goerges began unleashing her forehand with more ambition in bursting out to a 5-3 second-set lead. 

Stepping up to serve for the second set, Goerges was reeling from an onslaught of aggressive returns. Halep hammered a backhand return down the line breaking back for 5-all.

Both women were grunting with greater exuberance when Goerges gained break point in he 11th game, wincing in agony netting a forehand. Halep held strong.

Still, Goerges had the set on her racquet up 6-4 in the second-set tie break, but she netted a backhand to gift the mini break then sailed a forehand.

Halep hit a pair of forehand winners to close it.

In her tournament debut with new coach Thierry Van Cleemput, Halep now gears up for long-time nemesis Svitolina with a spot in the final at stake.



The 24-year-old Svitolina has beaten Halep four times in five meetings.

"It's a big challenge," Halep said. "I lost every time against her. It's gonna be a big challenge against her. I will give everything. I really want to win."

Earlier, the fourth-seeded Ukrainian swept Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova, 6-4, 6-2, to reach her first Doha final four.

"I found a way to have to beat her," Svitolina said. "I was very happy I could do it in two sets."

The world No. 7, who has been battling a neck issue, backed up her 6-4, 6-4, win over 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko with a commanding performance.

If Svitolina, who demolished Halep, 6-0, 6-4, in the Rome final last May, reaches the final she has a shot to return to the Top 5.

"Definitely try to focus on my own game and what I have to do," Svitolina said. "I just try to move really good. It's very enjoyable to play here and I just try to enjoy semifinals.

Blown out in the opening set, Angelique Kerber showed grit and guts storming back to edge practice partner Barbora Strycova, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4), in a thriller earlier today.



Three-time Grand Slam champion Kerber will take on either fifth-seeded Kiki Bertens or Elise Mertens for a spot in the final.

St. Petersburg champion Bertens is the only woman still standing in the field who has won a tournament title this season.