Simona Halep is enjoying a perfect week at the Tournament of Champions in Sofia – already with her yesterday’s win over Alize Cornet she made the semifinals and today she re-established herself in Group Serdika by easing past alternate Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-1. The top-seeded Romanian is now 3-0 in match wins at the tournament and 6-0 in sets. The other semifinalist from her group will be the winner of the Friday’s match between Alize Cornet and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Group Sredets is more open. Only home star Tsvetana Pironkova is no longer in contention, while any of the other three players in the group can claim the Top 2 spots and a place in the semis – Ana Ivanovic, Samantha Stosur and Elena Vesnina. Today Ivanovic got past fellow Grand Slam champion Stosur 6-2 5-7 6-2, while Vesnina ousted Pironkova 6-2 4-6 6-0. Friday’s action will determine the final four at the tournament. (photo: Jimmie48)