HALEP IN ‘ A GOOD SPOT’

FIT-again Simona Halep said she was in “a good spot” and feeling no pressure as she stepped up a level to crush the Australian Open dreams of Emma Raducanu’s conqueror Danka Kovinic and power into the last 16 on Saturday.

The two-time grand slam winner swept by the 98thranked Montenegrin 6-2, 6-1 and ensure her participation in the second week for a fifth consecutive year in

Melbourne.

She will now play French veteran Alize Cornet, who celebrated her 32nd birthday by beating 29th seed Tamara Zidansek 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.