Angelique Kerber Beats Simona Halep To Reach WTA Finals Last Four

Angelique Kerber put on a stellar performance to claim her second consecutive victory at the WTA Finals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Simona Halep on Tuesday, thus booking a spot in the semi-finals of the elite eight-woman event in Singapore.

Angelique Kerber Beats Simona Halep To Reach WTA Finals Last Four

The World No. 1 German, who defeated Dominika Cibulkova in Monday’s opener, saw off fourth-seeded Romanian Halep in 82 minutes.

Meanwhile, American Madison Keys recovered from losing to Halep in her opening match to defeat Cibulkova 6-1 6-4 and remain in pursuit of the semi-finals.

Two players will advance from each of the tournament’s two groups to contest the semi-finals. Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Karolina Pliskova and Garbine Muguruza are in the other.

Kerber ended Serena Williams’ 186-week stay at world No. 1 after winning the US Open in September, and her signature precise forehand, which also helped her win the Australian Open in January, proved too much for Halep.

The 28-year-old German entered the match trailing Halep, who thrashed Keys in her Red Group opener, 4-3 in their head-to-head meetings but rallied back to remind everyone the powerhouse player she is.

“I’m feeling very, very good here and it’s just great to win my second match here playing my best tennis,” Kerber said. “I’m trying to enjoy all my matches here and I hope the spectators can enjoy it as well.”

Kerber played the major points particularly well, converting four of five break points, compared with Halep’s return of just one break from six opportunities.

The German has won only twice on her three previous appearances at the season finale and has never passed the group stages.

Keys defeated Cibulkova by racing through the first set in just 23 minutes.The Slovak fought back in the second but a single break in the fifth game was all Keys needed to end the match, although the permutations available in the final pool games means all four players can still advance.

SINGAPORE – OCTOBER 25: Angelique Kerber of Germany plays a backhand in her singles match against Simona Halep of Romania during day 3 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore at Singapore Sports Hub on October 25, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)