Dominika Cibulkova grinds down Simona Halep to stay alive in Singapore

Dominika Cibulkova kept her hopes of reaching the last four of the WTA Finals alive with a gritty 6-3 7-6(5) Red Group victory over Simona Halep at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Thursday.

After losing her opening round robin matches to Angelique Kerber and Madison Keys, the Slovak needed a straight-sets win to have any chance of advancing and she managed to keep her side of the bargain in a display full of determination.

Her victory ensured the unbeaten Kerber qualified for the semi-finals without hitting a ball and Cibulkova will be hoping the German can return the favour in the late match by beating Keys in straight sets to take the Slovak through with her.

The American, however, needs to take just one set off world number one Kerber to advance while Halep, the losing finalist at the elite eight-woman event in 2014, was eliminated following the loss to Cibulkova.

Cibulkova came out all guns blazing, looking far more composed and urgent than her opponent, harrying Halep on every point and breaking to love at the first opportunity as she raced to a 3-0 lead in less than 10 minutes.

Halep, whose left knee was heavily taped, was struggling to get a foothold in the contest but after halting Cibulkova's winning streak at 13 points, the Romanian eked out a hold to finally get on the scoreboard in the fourth game.

The Slovak continued to look focused and determined to move 5-2 ahead and although the Romanian enjoyed her easiest hold of the match in the eighth game, Cibulkova sealed the opening set with a big serve down the middle that Halep sent long.

The world number eight started the second set as she had the first, utilising her devastating forehand to break in the opening game as she pushed for the straight sets triumph she needed to stay in the tournament.

Halep knew she needed to stem the flow quickly to avoid being blown away and the Romanian dug deep to forge her first two break points of the match and seized the second of them to level up the second set at 1-1.

Cibulkova was still on the front foot and calling the shots but after breaking her opponent twice in a row towards the end of the set, Halep came storming back and tensions mounted as the set moved inevitably to a tiebreak.

Still playing the aggressor, the Slovak edged ahead after the change of ends before she polished off a brilliant victory when Halep sent a backhand wide on the first match point.

More games: friv

RTS UPDATE: WHO JOINS KERBER & SERENA IN SINGAPORE?

The Road to Singapore is heading into the final stretch; can Simona Halep, Karolina Pliskova, and defending champ Agnieszka Radwanska all book their spots in the WTA Finals?

Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams have already booked their spots in the upcoming BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, and while Karolina Pliskova can't assure herself of a spot this week, her results at the Toray Pan Pacific Open could make her road to qualification even easier as the Asian Swing kicks into high gear.

Seeded No.3 in Tokyo, the US Open runner-up is the highest-ranked woman on the Road to Singapore leaderboard playing this week. RTS No.3 Simona Halep was forced to withdraw due to a left hamstring injury, but is still in pole position to reach Singapore for a third straight year. Set to return to the court in time for the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, the Mutua Madrid Open and Rogers Cup champion could book her ticket by reaching the final, possibly the semifinal based on other results.

As it stands now, Pliskova would have to win Wuhan to guarantee her WTA Finals debut, having narrowly missed out on qualification in 2015 - but a good run in Tokyo will likely take the pressure off as the race heats up.

The same goes for defending WTA Finals winner Agnieszka Radwanska, who is seeded No.2 in Tokyo and last year's champion. Ranked No.5 on the Road to Singapore leaderboard, the Pole can lessen her Wuhan load with a strong swing through the Japanese capital.

Further back from Radwanska is French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza, who reached the semifinals last year in her debut with a perfect 3-0 round robin record. Muguruza is the top seed in Tokyo, and has a 500 point lead over No.7 Dominika Cibulkova. Her chances of a second straight Singapore appearance are strong, but replicating last year's stellar fall swing would doubly assure her chances of a return.

In doubles, Sania Mirza appears to be aiming for a second qualification spot, despite already assuring herself of a return to Singapore with former partner Martina Hingis. Pairing up with Barbora Strycova at the Western & Southern Open, Mirza is ranked No.19 with her new partner, but is set to play the Toray Pan Pacific Open this week and could narrow the 500 point gap between her and the Top 8 with a title in Tokyo.

Click here to learn more about the doubles storylines and qualification scenarios in the latest Insider Doubles Take.

Check out the Top 8 and click here for the full Road to Singapore leaderboard:

Simona Halep upsets Angelique Kerber to reach Rogers Cup final, to face Madison Keys

Simona Halep fought hard to seal the win after a topsy-turvy encounter that lasted one hour 38 minutes in Montreal.

Fifth-seeded Romanian Simona Halep overcame a crisis of confidence in the second set to reach the final of the Rogers Cup with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 victory over second seed Angelique Kerber of Germany in Montreal on Saturday.

Halep had been a set and a break up before Kerber reeled off six straight games to lead 2-0 in the third before the Romanian regained control, sealing the win after a topsy-turvy encounter that lasted one hour 38 minutes in Montreal.

The 24-year-old, who was beaten by Kerber in the last eight at Wimbledon on July 5, will take on 10th-seeded American Madison Keys in Sunday’s final at the hardcourt event.

Keys swept past unseeded qualifier Kristina Kucova of Slovakia 6-2 6-1 in Saturday’s other semi-final, serving up nine aces as she wrapped up victory in just 51 minutes.

“I knew that it was going to be a tough one, always when I play against her it was a tough match,” Halep told ESPN in a courtside interview after improving her career record against Kerber to 4-2.

“Mentally I am pretty strong and I am a little bit disappointed in the second set I gave up at 3-2. But this is me.

“I have to improve more in this way and I am just trying to enjoy more and more and to give everything I have to win.”

A frustrated Halep smashed her racket on the ground during the seventh game of the second set after squandering her 3-2 lead and her coach, Darren Cahill, gave her quiet words of advice during the changeover.

“Take a deep breath … control your emotions, keep a cool head and make good decisions,” Cahill said.

Though Halep was also broken in the next game before Kerber levelled the match at a set all and then raced 2-0 up in the third, the Romanian heeded Cahill’s advice and wrested back the initiative with a more positive approach from the baseline.

Halep won the last six games of the match, wrapping up victory on her fourth match point when a net cord by the left-handed Kerber bounced just wide.

“I just tried to be more aggressive, to hit the ball because I started to push it (in the second set) and she could take the initiative of the game and she could dominate,” said Halep, who had lost her two previous matches against Kerber.

“And then I just wanted to finish the points and to go over her … I am happy that I could finish it.”

Wimbledon 2016: Victoria Azarenka withdraws because of knee injury

Victoria Azarenka withdrew from Wimbledon on Thursday, having failed to recover from a knee injury that cut short her French Open.

Injuries wrecked both 2014 and 2015 for Azarenka, with a third consecutive year now threatening to go the same way for the two-time major winner.

The draw to decide first-round matches will be held on Friday. Competition begins Monday. Defending champion Serena Williams and French Open winner Garbine Muguruza are the top two seeds.

Azarenka had three WTA Tour titles by early April in a stunning start to the year, but a back injury hampered her clay-court preparations. She was forced to retire injured in a first-round match against Karin Knapp at Roland Garros.

Azarenka's withdrawal could be followed by that of fifth seed Simona Halep, who withdrew from warm-up tournaments because of a sore Achilles tendon.

Rafael Nadal pulled out of the men's competition because of a wrist injury.

With the withdrawal of Azarenka, of Belarus, Germany's Andrea Petkovic moved into the 32 women's seeds. Venus Williams of the United States advanced to a top-eight position.

Simona Halep ‘zebra’ outfit turns heads at French Open

WHAT’S black and white and wears suspenders? No, it’s not a zebra performing in the circus.

It’s world No. 6 Simona Halep’s new get-up — and it’s as much a head-turner as it is a head-scratcher.

Social media lit up with comments about the unconventional tennis attire as the Romanian — a runner-up in Roland Garros two years ago — reached the French Open second round in just 43 minutes overnight.

The outfit is an adidas design and Halep at least is a fan, describing the design as “perfect”.

Fed Cup: Angelique Kerber gives Germany the lead with a straight sets win over Romania's Simona Halep

Angelique Kerber only dropped 4 games against world number five Simona Halep to give Germany a crucial 2-1 lead on the red clay.

With the tie equal at 1-1, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep went head to head at this year's Fed Cup looking to give their team a crucial win. After a tight couple of games at the beginning of the first set, Kerber was the first one to break, and never looked back, taking the first set 6-2. Things started to look better for Romania as Halep got the first break of the second set. But a couple of forehand winners from the German saw her get the break straight back. Each player held serve 3-2, as Kerber then broke again for a 4-2 lead. Two more games in a row saw Kerber take the rubber 6-2 6-2 to give Germanythe lead 2-1.

Kerber runs away with the first set

Both players started out serving great, each with holds to love. That didn’t last long, though, as Kerber broke immediately with gifted unforced errors from the Romanian. Halep, who hasn’t had the best season so far this year, broke back in the very next game with a backhand cross-court winner. Things looked to be back on serve, but a 3-2 a marathon game happened in which both woman had their chances, but Kerber prevailed, and broke again for a 4-2 lead.

The Romanian then responded on Kerber’s serve, forcing two break points. But Kerber was too good, and she consolidated the break for a 5-2 lead. The German then broke again, a netted backhand giving Kerber the break and the set.

Little resistance from Halep as Kerber takes the second set.

The second set started out in favor of the Romanian, as Halep grabbed the break on her first opportunity. Kerber then responded greatly, a well-placed forehand winner helping her get the break to love. The German then held her serve easily, a missed passing shot by Halep would help her make it 2-1. Kerber then held a break point in the very next game, but a fantastic backhand cross-court winner by the Romanian kept Kerber at bay. A netted forehand by the German gave Halep the game.

Great defense from Kerber would again get her a fairly easy service game to make it 3-2 in favor of the German. Kerber’s attacking tactics would grant her two break points on the Romanian’s serve in the very next game. A lucky net cord from Halep would save the first break point, but not the second. A forehand winner for the German’s racquet helping her get a break lead. Another fantastic cross-court forehand winner from Kerber got her to consolidate the break and gave her a 5-2 lead. Serving at 5-2 down, Halep seemed helpless as she got down 0-30. The Romanian sprouted a mini comeback to get it back to 30-30, but another forehand winner from the German earned her a match point. Kerber would take the match at her first opportunity, an uncharacteristic forehand sailing wide from Halep as the German closed out the match 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour and 7 minutes.

Winner's Comments

"I tried to play aggressively and I succeeded in doing that. I carried out my match plan well," said Kerber.

"It was a tough match. Simona is a tough player. I am really happy about my performance today. The atmosphere here is amazing and I really enjoyed it."

Serena Williams v Simona Halep BNP Paribas Open tennis live: World No. 1 meets defending champion in quarter-finals

World No. 1 Serena Williams and defending BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep collide in a blockbuster quarter-final showdown at Indian Wells on Wednesday night.

One year after they were first scheduled to meet in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open, Serena Williams and Simona Halep will finally meet in the Californian desert on Wednesday - just one round earlier. Last year Williams - returning from a well-documented 14-year boycott of Indian Wells - was forced to withdraw from their final-four encounter with a knee problem. Halep ultimately received a walkover into the final, where she won the biggest title of her career and well and truly established herself within the top 3 of the rankings.

The pair would rekindle their rivalry later in 2015 at Cincinnati, where Williams emerged a 6-3 7-6(5) winner in the final. Halep hasn’t reached a final since and has endured a turbulent start to 2016. The Romanian has crashed out in the opening rounds of the Australian Open, Dubai and Doha, while simultaneously putting off planned nose surgery, which clearly affected her in one way or another on court throughout the first two months of this season.

However Halep is enjoying a sudden return to top form at Indian Wells, surging into the quarter-finals without the loss of a set. Players often display their best tennis when they return to a scene of their greatest triumph, and that’s certainly been the case with Halep so far this tournament. A second round 6-1 6-1 romp of Vania King was followed up by an extremely impressive 6-2 6-4 triumph over the always-threatening Ekaterina Makarova. Benefitting from a retirement due to illness from Barbora Strycova in the Round of 16, Halep says she is relishing the chance to take on Williams in the quarters.

"I would like to play against her; I'm looking forward to it, and I know she's the best player in the world, so I have nothing to lose. I want just to go and fight for my chance - I know that I have a chance.

"I will go with confidence, positivity and just fighting for the match."

Simona Halep (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Top seed Williams is playing at Indian Wells for just the second time since winning the 2001 title, and she will be hoping to add a second championship over the next few days. As has become the norm in recent years, Williams has played a limited scheduled to start the season. In fact, this is the first tournament Williams has contested since falling to a shock loss at the hands of Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final in January.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion doesn’t take long to get the engine running though, and she’s illustrated that through back-to-back-to-back straight set thumpings of Laura Siegemund, Yulia Putintseva and Kateryna Bondarenko in her first three matches at Indian Wells. Still without a title since defeating Halep at Cincinnati last August, this is an extremely important tournament for Williams to re-establish her dominance as the undisputed champion figure on the WTA Tour. After a ridiculously successful opening eight months of 2015, question marks have plagued Williams since THAT loss to Roberta Vinci in the US Open semi-finals - questions that can only be answered if she returns to the winners circle consistently on the biggest stages.

Williams and Halep have only ever met on the biggest stages, with Serena enjoying a dominant 6-1 record. Halep has only ever taken two sets of Williams in her six defeats, while her only win came in the round robin stage of the 2014 WTA Championships - with Williams later avenging that loss in the final. A win for Halep here would be among the most significant in her career, and give her a chance to defend her title and kick-start her 2016 campaign. A win for Williams would place her firmly in the drivers seat to capture a whopping 70th WTA title and further extend her lead at the top of the rankings. Before this tournament she would be the overwhelming favourite - but Halep is showing signs of recapturing her best form. Strap yourselves in, this promises to be an absolute cracker of a battle under the lights of Stadium 1.

Serena Williams sets up Simona Halep showdown at Indian Wells

Serena Williams registered a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 victory over Kateryna Bondarenko at the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday.

Serena Williams sent down seven aces on her way to a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 victory over Kateryna Bondarenko at the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday, setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final against defending champion Simona Halep.

“It’ll be a really good match I think for both of us to kind of see where we want to be at this point in the year,” top seed Williams told reporters of the showdown against the Romanian in California.

“I really like her game. I like how she’s aggressive. She’s a fighter. I definitely have to be ready.”

The American world number one, a 21-time grand slam champion, is looking for her first title at Indian Wells since 2001.

Halep moved a step closer to repeating last year’s triumph after her opponent Barbora Strycova retired with the world number five leading 6-3 1-0.

The Romanian has only defeated Williams once in her career, a 6-0 6-2 thrashing in the group stages of the 2014 WTA Finals that the American avenged in an equally as one-sided final.

The pair were due to meet in the semi-final of this tournament a year ago but Williams was forced to withdraw ahead of the contest through a knee injury.

“I know that it’s gonna be tough to win, but still, I have my chance,” Halep said.

“I feel that I have the game to play against her. We will see tomorrow. She’s number one in the world.”

In earlier women’s action, Polish third seed Agnieska Radwanska beat Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic 6-3 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals, where she will face world number nine Petra Kvitova.

Radwanska, who was a runner-up in the event two years ago, broke last year’s losing finalist six times in an error-strewn contest in which both players struggled on serve.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova ended the fairytale run of American qualifier Nicole Gibbs, rallying for a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win to book her spot in the quarters.

Kvitova imposed her left-handed power to overcome Gibbs, swatting 27 winners to 11 for the American and claiming 18-of-25 points at net to prevail.

“It’s always tough coming back after losing the first (set),” said the Czech, who has needed three sets in each of her three victories. “We both played really well in the third set so I was happy to get the win.”

Italian ninth seed Roberta Vinci retired from her match against unseeded Magdalena Rybarikova while trailing 2-6 0-2.

Victoria Azarenka, Timea Bacsinszky and Karolina Pliskova were also winners.