WTA Finals: Wozniacki blasts past Halep to reach semi-finals, Garcia outlasts Svitolina to stay alive

Dane world No 6 has been in scintillating form in Singapore and had too much power for the world No 1, while Garcia fought back from 3-5 down in the final set to win.

Caroline Wozniacki has every reason to smile after reaching the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Singapore. Jeremy Lee / Reuters

Caroline Wozniacki said she couldn't quite believe how well she played in her emphatic victory over world No 1 Simona Halep yesterday, a result that ensured the Dane a place in the last-four of the WTA Finals in Singapore.

Woznaicki, 27, produced a near perfect display to dismantle Halep 6-0, 6-2 at the WTA Finals to record her second dominant win of the tournament following her opening win over Elina Svitolina.

The Dane is now virtually assured of a semi-finals berth after losing just four games in two matches, while Halep lives to fight another day after her opening straight sets victory over Caroline Garcia gives her a 1-1 record in the Red Group.

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Read more:

• Jon Turner: Halep will need to find greater resolve when under pressure to remain world No 1

• WTA Finals: Pliskova hammers Muguruza to reach semi-finals, Williams battles past Ostapenko

• Graham Caygill: Wozniacki has the ability to compete for grand slams - in 2018 she needs to prove it

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"I think I played really well today and stayed aggressive throughout. I didn't expect to be leading by that much in the first set and I started to think 'what's happening? Am I really playing that well?'," Wozniacki said.

"I just stayed positive, took the ball early and went for my shots. It's a great court for me as I was putting spin on the ball to get in position for my shots and wait for the right opportunities to hit my winners."

If Wozniacki sailed through her match, there was nothing straightforward about Garcia's win over Svitolina in yesterday's later clash.

Down 5-3 and on the brink of elimination, Garcia dug deep and reeled off four straight games to prevail 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 44 minutes.

It means Garcia, Svitolina and Halep will battle for the final semi-final position from the Red Group.

“This was an incredible battle, the last match I had against Svitolina was already very long, and this one was the same,” Garcia said in her on-court interview. “It was a battle on every single point, and I’m just happy to be through."

Garcia is in the form of her career having won successive titles in Wuhan and Beijing to claim the final spot for the WTA Finals at the last possible opportunity.

"Everything happened so fast for me and I was very stressed to be here," Garcia said. "But now I can enjoy it and this is a great moment for me."