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Can Svetlana Kuznetsova cause a shock upset and send Simona Halep out of the Sydney International, or will the Romanian go through to the final? Join The Roar for live scores from around 1pm (AEDT), following Alexandr Dolgopolov versus Grigor Dimitrov.
First seed Halep opened her 2016 season with a win over the in-form Caroline Garcia 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.
Halep then set up a quarter-final meeting with fifth seed Karolina Pliskova, who she knocked out in straight sets.
She has won just five of her last ten matches, after a poor finish to 2015 saw her make some early tournament exits, and fall to both WTA champion Agnieszka Radwanska and semi-finalist Maria Sharapova at the 2015 WTA Championships.
Kuznetsova, on the other hand, has won eight of her last ten matches, with her losses coming at the hands of Roberta Vinci during the 2015 WTA Elite tournament and Tamira Paszek at Auckland.
The no.25 has had a great start to her Sydney International, starting her tournament with a win in straight sets over Australian Tammi Patterson to set up a meeting with Sabine Lisicki, who she eased past 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
Halep and Kuznetsova have played each other five times, with Halep winning three of those meetings. Their most recent match came during the quarter-finals of the 2014 French Open, which Halep won in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. They have met twice on hard court, for one win apiece.
The winner will meet either eighth seed Belinda Bencic or Puerto Rican qualifier Monica Puig in the final.
After a rain delay halted play, Halep led Kuznetsova 5-4.
Prediction
Halep will prevail in three gruelling sets, and qualify for the final.
Join The Roar for live scores from around 1pm (AEDT), following the completion of eight seed Alexandr Dolgopolov and fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov, and comment below if you’re watching the match.
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