Fatigued Simona Halep offers ‘no excuses’ after losing to Belinda Bencic in Dubai

Swiss youngster Belinda Bencic is into the semi-finals of the Dubai Championships after stunning Simona Halep in the quarters.

The 21-year-old saved six match points before beating Aryna Sabalenka in the previous round, and need to summon more resilience against world number two Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Halep, though, was struggling with her fitness and did visibly wilt as the match progressed.

“I couldn’t serve well because I felt my Achilles, and I had cramping, but there are no excuses,” Halep said.

“The body felt it was tired and, even though I wasn’t giving up, I felt I didn’t have enough to win.

“But I played until the end and I tried to stay there.

“I’m not worried about the pain, it is just because I am tired and also had too many matches.

I need a few days off and then I will be OK.”

Bencic will face Elina Svitolina in the semis after she easily overcame Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-3.

The other semi sees Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova face Hsieh Su-Wei, who scored a brilliant 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 win over Karolina Pliskova.

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