Halep had taken three sets to beat Pliskova in their previous meeting, a semi-final at Roland Garros a year ago, and started shakily, struggling to time her serve or groundstrokes.
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Down 0-3, 30-40, Halep reeled off nine games in a row and took control.
“I didn’t have the best start, but I restarted after three games”.
Her serve, which used to be one of her weaknesses, no longer seems to be a problem.
“Madison is a hard hitter, and she served good”, said the former No. 1 in her news conference. Not only that, but she played some dismal tennis against much lower-ranked players. But on the other side I know that I have to try to improve my game, as well.
“I just went out and played like I’ve been playing all week”.
Halep had to save match points in her third-round clash with Davis and the Romanian believes that match could be aturning point.
The win also ensures she will be back in the world’s top 10 when the next WTA rankings are released at tournament’s end. She will go back into the top 10 after the tournament.
“I don’t know if this is something from Australia?” “I think it’s very close”. I think all the matches were pretty similar.
Kerber and Halep have split their previous eight meetings and another long, closely-fought contest looms between two of the most outstanding defensive players on the women’s circuit.
“Sometimes I hit stronger, sometimes softer”.
Keys matched her opponent with 13 winners, but made 25 unforced errors to the German’s seven.
Despite this, she has cruised through her two latest encounters, beating the risky Japanese player Naomi Osaka and former World #1 Karolina Pliskova, losing just five games in both matches. I was not thinking a lot about winners or errors, I was staying in the moment and tried to play every single point.
“Always when I play here I feel such great memories”.
“Actually, this tournament looks like a marathon for me”, she said, after spending nearly nine hours on court so far, more than any other player.
Second-ranked Roger Federer is still in contention for his 20th major, with a quarterfinal win against Tomas Berdych today.
Until now, Kerber’s defensive two-handed backhand, which she digs out from an nearly sitting position, had been her most important shot. The victor will take on either Madison Keys or Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals tomorrow. “This gives me a lot of confidence to be here and playing my best”. “I think it’s just going to take a little bit of time”.
Wozniacki and Mertens will square off in the first semi-final on Thursday afternoon with Kerber and Halep following on Rod Laver Arena. The German is now on a match-winning streak of 14.
Kerber will face American Madison Keys, a 6-3, 6-2 victor over Spaniard Caroline Garcia.
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Pliskova after her loss went out on a limb to pick a victor.
