Romania’s tennis star Simona Halep, currently number 3 in the world, started the year with a qualification to the Shenzhen final in China. Halep beat Chinese player Saisai Zheng, 97 WTA, with a score of 6-2, 6-3, in a one hour and 26 minutes match.

Halep will play the final on Saturday, January 10, against the winner of the match between Petra Kvitova and Timea Bacsinszky.

The Romanian player will get 180 WTA points and USD 55,000 for making it to the Shenzhen final. Halep had a great evolution during the China tournament in the first days of 2015. She won her first match of the year on January 5, against Germany’s Annika Beck. Then she made it to the quarterfinals after defeating 17-year old Russian player Natalia Vikhlyantseva (no. 584 WTA). Her victory against 21-year old Serbian Aleksandra Krunic (no. 84 WTA) sent Halep in the semifinal.

editor@romania-insider.com