MELBOURNE (AP) — Simona Halep fended off Angelique Kerber to set up a high-stakes Australian Open final against Caroline Wozniacki that will have a first Grand Slam title and the No. 1 ranking on the line for both players.
After No. 2 Wozniacki had secured her spot in the final, top-seeded Halep raced to a 6-3, 3-1 lead in the second semifinal before Kerber rallied to force a third set. Both players had chances to serve out the match, and both staved off match points in long and engrossing rallies, before Halep converted her fourth match point in a 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 victory.
Halep was on a 10-match winning streak after collecting the title in Shenzhen, China, while Kerber was on a 14-match streak that included the Hopman Cup and her title run in Sydney.
MORE FROM MELBOURNE
WOZNIACKI: No. 2 seed beats upstart Mertens to reach final
U.S. HOPES DASHED: Sandgren final American to lose in singles
SANDGREN SCRUTINY: Serena believes he should apologize
"Well, definitely was very tough. I’m shaking now — I’m really emotional," Halep said after her 2-hour, 20-minute semifinal win over Kerber, the only major winner to reach the last four. "I’m really glad that I could resist. I had two match balls and I lost them. Today I was like a roller coaster — up and down — (but) I had confidence in myself."
For Halep, now it’s a first Grand Slam final appearance off the clay at Roland Garros. For Wozniacki, it’s a first Grand Slam final outside of America.
Both finalists have had to save match points to reach Saturday’s championship match.
Halep spent just shy of 10 hours on court in her first five matches, the longest of any of the semifinalists, and fended off triple match point in her third-round win over Lauren Davis that ended 15-13 in the third.
Wozniacki has had a slightly smoother run, though she had to save match points and rally from 5-1 down in the third set of her second-round win. She also had some nervous moments in her 6-3, 7-6 (2) semifinal win over Elise Mertens.
