Romania’s Simona Halep has booked her spot in the Madrid Open semi-finals, taking less than an hour to defeat Coco Vandeweghe of the United States.

Halep, the world No.8, needed just 59 minutes to defeat world No.20 Vandeweghe 6-1 6-1.

The former French Open finalist is now one step away from a third final in Madrid, after losing in 2014 and seizing the title in 2016.

Halep set up the Vandeweghe clash on Wednesday by defeating Australia’s Samantha Stosur, whom she also beat en route to her triumph last year before accounting for Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets in the final.

She will face Anastasija Sevastova in the last four after the Latvian beat Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-3 6-3.

Svetlana Kuznetsova completed the semi-final line-up with a 6-4 6-0 win over Eugenie Bouchard.