SIMONA HALEP — REUTERS
SIMONA Halep dug deep to beat Jessica Pegula, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, to punch her ticket to Sunday’s Canadian Open final where she will face Beatriz Haddad Maia after the Brazilian toppled Karolína Plíšková for her latest win over a marquee player.
Two-time tournament champion Halep got off to a sluggish start and the American took full advantage, wrapping up the 35-minute first set with an ace.
But a loose service game by Pegula early in the second set, capped by a unforced backhand error, gave the Romanian former world number one a 3-1 lead as frustration began to mount in her less experienced opponent.
With the win, Halep will re-enter the top 10 for the first time in almost a year when the new rankings are released on Monday. — Reuters
