Simona Halep stays top after Caroline Wozniacki crashes out
Simona Halep remains on course to win a third Madrid Open while her rival for the world No 1 title Caroline Wozniacki was sent packing.
The defending champion claimed a routine 6-1, 6-4 win over the qualifier Kristyna Pliskova in an hour and 15 minutes to take her unbeaten run at Caja Magica to 15 matches.
.@Simona_Halep is first into the #MMOPEN quarterfinals!
Downs Kristyna Pliskova 6-1, 6-4! pic.twitter.com/YjTtnMfwCn
— WTA (@WTA) May 9, 2018
“I’m really happy I could finish that second set,” Halep said. “It’s always tough to play against the [Pliskova] sisters. I always said that, because they have a strong serve. They can hit the ball very strong. So it’s a very good win for me.”
She will face Kristyna’s twin sister Karolina in the last eight after the sixth seed beat US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-2.
Make it 8? straight wins on clay!
.@KaPliskova sails past Stephens 6-2, 6-3.
Advances to #MMOPEN quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/05kON308pZ
— WTA (@WTA) May 9, 2018
With world No 2 Wozniacki losing in the third round, it means the Romanian will retain top spot in the rankings.
Australian Open champion Wozniacki was never really in it as she went down 6-2, 6-3 to world No 20 Kiki Bertens, who will face either Maria Sharapova or Kristina Mladenovic in the quarter-finals.
A perfect ??@kikibertens takes the last 10 points to defeat World No.2 @CaroWozniacki 6-2, 6-2.
Advances to #MMOPEN quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/KonLkZzLED
— WTA (@WTA) May 9, 2018
