Pliskova edges out Halep at WTA Finals

Karolina Pliskova booked her place in the last four of the WTA Finals with a 6-0 2-6 6-4 victory over Simona Halep in Shenzhen on Friday. Whoever won the Purple Group match would secure the final spot up for grabs in the semi-finals and it was Czech second seed Pliskova that held her nerve. She will now face world number one Ashleigh Barty on Saturday for a place in the final. Wimbledon champion Halep had looked well placed to advance after she led by a break during the final set. However, she then lost her way and was involved in a bizarre on-court spat withcoach Darren Cahill, who labelled her “an absolute disgrace”. In the day’s other match, reigning champion Elina Svitolina maintained her perfect record by claiming a straight-sets 7-5 7-6 victory over American Sofia Kenin, who was a late injury replacement for Bianca Andreescu, who was forced to withdraw from the event on Thursday because of a knee issue. Svitolina already knew her place in the semi-finals was assured before Friday’s match. She will now face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the last four. The Ukranian is bidding to become the first woman to win back-to-back WTA Finals since Serena Williams claimed her fifth crown in 2014.