Top seed Halep loses China tennis quarter

After a sloppy start to the match, Simona Halep gathered pace in the latter end of the first set and continued the momentum to overcome Timea Babos in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 and progress into the quarterfinals of the Guangzhou worldwide Women’s Open.

Halep was broken three times in the first set and once more in the second as Allertova took 72 minutes to complete her surprise 6-4 6-3 victory.

22-year-old Czech Denisa Allertova stunned Simona Halep to reach the Guangzhou semifinals.

Fourth seed Jelena Jankovic was pushed all the way by former French Open victor Francesca Schiavone before eventually booking her place in the quarter-finals.

Sixth seed and defending champion Monica Niculescu enjoyed a comfortable 6-3 6-2 win over Rebecca Peterson, while Yanina Wickmayer was also able to cruise into the last eight with a 6-3 6-4 success of Monica Puig.

Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova eased through to the quarter-finals as the fifth seed raced to a 6-0 6-1 triumph over Urszula Radwanska of Poland in 53 minutes.

And China’s top player Zheng Saisai, seeded eighth in the tournament, downed Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 6-2, 6-1.