Simona Halep tops Laura Siegemund to reach Gippsland Trophy quarters

The top seed Simona Halep is through to the last eight at the Gippsland Trophy in Melbourne, beating the 16th seed Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 33 minutes.

World no. 2 saved five out of six break points and broke the German four times to move over the top in straight sets. Siegemund had an early lead in set number two but couldn't hold it for long, as Simona took charge to bring the victory home in straight sets and remain on the title course.

Laura wasted her chances in the opening game and suffered a break when her backhand found the net. The Romanian confirmed the break with a backhand winner in game two and scored another a few minutes later to forge a 3-0 advantage. Simona held at love in game four and had more chances to increase the lead in the next one, wasting two break points and allowing Siegemund to get her name on the scoreboard.

Serving at 5-2, Halep saved a break point and placed a service winner to grab the set 6-2 in 38 minutes. They traded breaks in games two and three in set number two, and the Romanian fended off three more break chances in game four to level the score at 2-2. The German hit a double fault at 4-4 to give serve away, and Halep held at 30 in the next one to seal the deal and advance into the quarters.