Halep outlasts Kvitova to make Madrid final

Romanian Simona Halep booked her place in the final of the Madrid Open on Saturday with a hard-fought 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova.
After just one break apiece it was fifth seed Kvitova who edged a first set tie-break and the Czech looked on her way to her first final of the season when she led 3-1 early in the second.
Halep responded by taking the next seven games to level at one set all and go an early break ahead in the decider.
The fourth seed then broke the Kvitova serve once more to move ahead 5-2 and comfortably completed victory in just over two-and-a-half hours on court to set up a meeting with Maria Sharapova or Agnieszka Radwanska in Sunday’s final.