• Simona Halep becomes world No1 after reaching China Open final • Rafael Nadal bids for his sixth title of the year in the men’s event

Simona Halep will take over at the top of the women’s rankings after reaching the final of the China Open, whilst Rafael Nadal bids for his sixth title of the year in the men’s event.

Halep beat Jelena Ostapenko in their semi-final 6-2, 6-4, ensuring the Romanian will become the first female No1 from the eastern European country when the updated rankings are released Monday.

Nick Kyrgios storms into China Open quarter-finals Read more

In order to top the women’s game Halep had to reach the final in Beijing this week, and not lose to Elina Svitolina if she got there, to take over from Garbine Muguruza. Muguruza retired during her opening match on Monday with a cold and Svitolina was ousted by unseeded Caroline Garcia in a marathon quarter-final encounter.

“Of course it’s the best moment in my life, and I want just to keep it,” Halep said. “And I have few more dreams in my career. I tell you one, only one. To win a Grand Slam.”

Ostapenko entered their semi-final having not lost a set in Beijing, but Halep dominated from the start, breaking her opponent’s serve in the first game to love. Halep tightened her grip with another break in the seventh game for a 5-2 lead and served out the first set.

In the second, Halep surrendered a 3-2 lead with a service break in the sixth game, but went on to break back three games later. At 40-0 in the final game, Halep took victory, and with it the No1 spot, hitting a forehand winner down the line.

Halep could have reached the No1 earlier this year but was upset in the French Open final by Ostapenko in their first career meeting.

In the men’s draw Nadal defeated Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in their semi-final. The French and US Open champion is one of three men to win five titles this year, along with Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev.

Nadal held his serve to love in his first three games against Dimitrov but had to save two break points in the seventh game before taking the first set. In the second, a backhand cross-court winner from Dimitrov broke Nadal and ultimately proved enough to level the match. Nadal took immediate control of the third set, racing to a 4-0 lead and only dropped one more game to take victory.

Nadal, the 2005 China Open champion, who has a tour-leading 60 match wins in 2017, will play Nick Kyrgios in Sunday’s final after the Australian beat Zverev 6-3, 7-5.

Halep, looking for her second title of the year after winning in Madrid, will play Garcia in women’s final after the Frenchwoman beat Petra Kvitova 6-3, 7-5.