Halep notches first career win over Sharapova

Beijing, Oct 4: World No.2 Simo Halep of Romania spped her seven-match losing streak to Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, advancing to the quarter-fils of the Chi Open here on Wednesday.

The wild carded Sharapova was troubled by her serve, producing five double faults in the whole match, three of which came in the first set, reports Xinhua news agency.

After each broke once in the first two games of the first set, the second seed broke another two and hold her own two to take a domint 5-1 lead.

Although Sharapova maged to take the seventh game in her service, Halep showed no mercy in the eighth when she served, winning five points in a row to close the first set.

“I think she played an incredible match, probably the best she’s played against me in all of our previous meetings. And I wasn’t as sharp,” said Sharapova.

“She was hitting the ball consistently, not making a lot of unforced errors, her service percentage was quite high. She did all the right things.”

Awaiting Halep in the quarter-fils is either 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland or Daria Kasatki of Russia. (IANS)