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Wuhan Open: Simona Halep books WTA Finals spot with win

Tennis: A 6-4 6-2 win against Madison Keys at the Wuhan Open ensured Simona Halep will once again compete in the season-ending WTA Finals.

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Simona Halep enjoyed an excellent day's work as a straight-sets win over Madison Keys secured a Wuhan Open semi-final berth and a spot at the WTA Finals.

She will face Petra Kvitova in the last four, while the other semi pits together Svetlana Kuznetsova andDominika Cibulkova following her three-sets win over Barbora Strycova.

Cibulkova and Strycova had to play two matches in the same day following the intervention of rain on Wednesday, and it was the former that managed to come through the double test.

HALEP SECURES WTA FINALS RETURN

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Halep, seeking a 15th WTA title in China this week, was at her best against Keys, wrapping up a 6-4 6-2 victory in just over an hour.

She lost the final of the season-ending event to Serena Williams in 2014, but the world number five will again prove a strong contender this time around.

Konta's hopes of joining Halep in the Finals were dented by a 6-3 6-4 loss to Kvitova, who beat world number one Angelique Kerber in the previous round.

RADWANSKA STUNNED BY KUZNETSOVA FIGHTBACK

Kuznetsova lost the first set 6-1 and faced match point in a second-set tie-break before roaring back to stun third seed Radwanska in a thrilling 1-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-4 triumph.

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The Russian's last title came back in January in Sydney.

CIBULKOVA REIGNS AFTER RAIN

After rain led to the postponement of their matches on Wednesday, Strycova and Cibulkova returned to wrap up last-16 victories a day later.

Strycova beat Jelena Jankovic in three sets, while Cibulkova overcame Karolina Pliskova.

The two then squared off against one another,as Cibulkova prevailed 6-3 3-6 6-4.

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