Halep secures top ranking with China Open semifinal win

Simon Halep of Romania celebrates defeating Jelena Ostapenko of Lativa to secure her world number one ranking after the women’s singles semi-final match in the China Open tennis tournament at the Diamond Court in Beijing, China, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Simona Halep beat ninth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4 Saturday in the China Open semifinals to guarantee the Romanian will take over the top ranking for the first time in her career.

Halep could have reached the No. 1 ranking earlier this year but was upset in the French Open final by Ostapenko in their first career meeting.

Halep only had to reach the final this week in Beijing — and not lose to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the final — to knock Garbine Muguruza from the top spot.

Svitolina was ousted by unseeded Caroline Garcia of France in a marathon quarterfinal encounter.

Halep will play the winner of the semifinal between Garcia and 12th-seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic. The Romanian will be looking for her second title of the year after winning in Madrid.

Ostapenko entered the semifinal without the loss of a set during the week. But Halep dominated the first set, breaking Ostapenko’s serve in the first game at love. She cemented her lead with another break in the seventh game for a 5-2 lead to serve out the set.

In the second set, Halep surrendered a 3-2 lead with a service break in the sixth game, but went on to break serve again in the ninth game. At 40-0 in the final game, Halep won with a clean forehand winner down the line.