The British No 1 Johanna Konta battled past Aliaksandra Sasnovich in three sets at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow to make just her second WTA semi-final of the year.

After the first two sets were won 6-2, both players turned up the quality in the third but it was Konta who edged out the world No 31, 7-6 (7-2) in the decider. Konta will now play the Russian sixth seed Daria Kasatkina in the last four. The welcome win for 27-year-old comes a week after she split with her coach Michael Joyce. She is now working with Dimitri Zavialoff.

Kyle Edmund went into the European Open quarter-finals with a crushing straight-sets victory over Albert Ramos-Vinolas. The British No 1 dispatched the Spaniard 6-0 6-2 in just 55 minutes in Antwerp, to book a last-eight clash with Belarus’ Ilya Ivashka. Edmund extended his recent winning run with a dominant performance, seeing off the 30-year-old with precious few problems.

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Cameron Norrie was narrowly beaten in the European Open quarter-finals by Diego Schwartzman. The British No 2 lost in three tight sets 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 in two hours and 34 minutes.

Simona Halep has withdrawn from next week’s WTA Finals in Singapore because of a back injury. The world No 1, who has a herniated disc, had hoped to be fit but is still experiencing pain and will be replaced in the field by Kiki Bertens.

“Unfortunately, after much discussion with my team and doctors, I have made the decision to withdraw from the WTA Finals in Singapore,” said Halep. “I wanted to finish 2018 on a high after such an incredible year, but sadly my back injury hasn’t healed the way we hoped it would and I need to put my long-term health first.

“I’m sad I won’t be able to play the fifth and final edition here in Singapore, but I’m confident this is the right decision and will do everything I can to be back fighting for my place at the WTA Finals next year.”

Halep has already guaranteed she will finish the year on top of the rankings after a season that brought the Romanian a maiden grand slam title at the French Open.

Bertens has had a breakthrough season at the very top level and recently became the first Dutchwoman to make the top 10 for more than 20 years. The 26-year-old, who reached the doubles final in Singapore 12 months ago with the Swede Johanna Larsson, said: “I’m very happy with my season and to finish it off at the WTA Finals is the ultimate prize. I have great memories in Singapore.”