‘It’s good to have tough matches,’ says Simona Halep after staging another comeback win

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Simona Halep delighted

For the second time this week Simona Halep had to pull off a comeback win at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, this time against Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-final.

On Wednesday she lost the opening set and faced a match point before beating Ons Jabeur, and a day later she again had to come from behind to win.

The quarter-final win was not quite as dramatic, but the 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory set up a semi-final clash against American Jennifer Brady.

“Everything was a little bit fast, too powerful. When I got the rhythm, it was much easier for me to feel the game,” the Romanian said.

“I played quicker in the second and third set. She didn’t have time to hit the ball. I think that was the key of the match.

“It’s good to have tough matches. I’m here to give everything I have to win every match I play. I’m happy with these matches.”

Up next is qualifier Brady, who upset ninth seed and Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 win earlier in the day.

“I was able to find a way, I wasn’t feeling my best,” Brady said. “Maybe I didn’t play my best tennis, but I stayed in there, competed and came out on top.”

Second seed Karolina Pliskova also crashed out as the Czech was beaten by the in form Elena Rybakina, who notched up her 18th victory of the season.

Kazakh Rybakina, who reached the St Petersburg Ladies’ Trophy final on Sunday, upset world No 3 Pliskova 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 to set up a last-four clash against Petra Martic, who beat Anett Kontaveit of Estonia 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

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Garbine Muguruza Simona Halep

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