Simona Halep into China Open semi-final to close in on world No 1 spot

Simona Halep is currently ranked world No 2

Simona Halep has edged closer to taking the world No 1 ranking by qualifying for the China Open semi-finals on Friday.

Halep, currently ranked No 2, defeated the unseeded Daria Kasatkina 6-2 6-1 to close in on the top spot held by Garbine Muguruza.

Muguruza's world No 1 position is under threat after she bowed out of this tournament in the first round with a virus.

Halep beat Maria Sharapova in the previous round and, after winning her quarter-final, will play Jelena Ostapenko who beat her at the French Open earlier this year.

Had Elina Svitolina beaten Caroline Garcia, Halep might have had to win the title, with Svitolina also in the race for number one.

But the Ukrainian was beaten in a gruelling encounter with Wuhan champion Garcia, who prevailed 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 7-6 (8-6) after three hours and 21 minutes.

The Frenchwoman, who had her right thigh heavily strapped, must now recover for a semi-final against Petra Kvitova, who beat fellow Czech Barbora Strycova 6-3 6-4.

The Japan Open is live on Sky Sports from 5am on Saturday, and the China Open is live from 9:30am.

Sky Sports Tennis will have all the action from the ATP China Open, Japan Open and Shanghai Masters before the action heads to Paris.

The Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan and season-ending extravaganza World Tour Finals at London's O2 in November end another memorable year which will covered via our website www.skysports.com/tennis with live blogs and updates as the season reaches its climax.

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