Simona Halep has overcome a second-set lapse to secure a Miami Open quarter-final victory over China’s Wang Qiang that put the Romanian one win away from reclaiming the world No.1 ranking.
Second-seeded Halep stormed back from 5-1 down in the second set and saved three set points before wrapping up the win 6-4 7-5 over 18th-seeded Wang in 89 minutes.
“I just found out from my coach that I need one more match to be No.1 again,” Halep said.
“It’s pretty much in my head and I’m happy that I’m in this position again.”
Halep’s semi-final opponent in the WTA Premier Mandatory event will be fifth-seeded Karolina Pliskova, who defeated Marketa Vondrousova 6-3 6-4 in their all-Czech showdown.
Halep started strongly and broke Wang three times to race into a 4-1 lead before she closed out the first set.
Wang built a 5-1 lead in the second set but Halep staved of three set points in the 10th game as she went on to secure victory.
“Playing again in the semi-finals is going to be a big challenge. And maybe I can do my best result here and play in the final,” Halep said.
Pliskova fought off two break points in the final game against Vondrousova and prevailed when her countrywoman sent a forehand long on match point.
“Night, it’s perfect for me,” Pliskova said, after the conclusion of her evening match on centre court.
Halep leads Pliskova 7-2 in their head-to-head meetings.
“It’s going to be, I think, a good match,” Pliskova said of the looming matchup with Halep.
“With her the quality of the tennis is always good and the intensity is always good.”
The Halep-Pliskova winner will face Australian Ashleigh Barty, who is assured of a spot in the top 10 for the first time after her run to the last four in Miami, or Estonian 21st seed Anett Kontaveit in the final.