Sharapova, Halep remain on course to meet in Shenzhen Open final

Australian Open.

Sharapova plays Katerina Siniakova next after the defending champion beat fellow Czech Kristyna Pliskova 6-2, 6-2.

Earlier, fourth seed IrinaCamelia Begu had to work hard to overcome Timea Babos 7-5, 7-5 to set up a semifinal meeting with her compatriot Halep, who guaranteed top seeding for the Australian Open after battling back from a set down to defeat China’s Duan Yingying 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Wednesday. Halep is now assured to remain world No.1 ahead of Caroline Wozniacki and Garbine Muguruza for the season’s first Grand Slam which begins in Melbourne on January 15.

Photo: VCG Maria Sharapova of Russia serves to Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan during Day 5 of the 2018 WTA Shenzhen Open on Thursday in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province.