Halep saves two match points before beating former champion Kerber, while Wozniacki comes through a late bout of nerves to defeat Elise Mertens
Thursday 24 May 2018 14:19, UK
Top seed Simona Halep survived a marathon clash against Angelique Kerber to reach the Australian Open final where she will meet second seed Caroline Wozniacki with the world No 1 ranking at stake.
Halep completed a thrilling 6-3 4-6 9-7 victory in two hours and 20 minutes after taking her fourth match point to outlast 2014 champion Kerber.
"It definitely was very tough, I'm shaking, I'm very emotional," admitted Halep, who was speaking courtside. "She's a very tough opponent. I'm really glad that I could resist and I could win this match. I have just to enjoy.
"I had just confidence in myself. I decided after I twist my ankle (in the first round) that I will fight for every point in this tournament and then I will rest. I didn't give up, not even a ball. If you don't give up you can win the match in the end. I did it and I'm really proud of myself."
Wozniacki survived a wobble in sight of the finish line to defeat Elise Mertens and reach her third Grand Slam final.
All was going swimmingly for Wozniacki, who is trying to win her first major title in her 43rd tournament, until she served for the match at 5-4 in the second set and from 30-0 lost four straight points, double-faulting on the last of them.
After losing 11 of 12 points, the world No 2 found herself facing two set points, but she composed herself, saved them and went on to win 6-3 7-6 (7-2).
The 27-year-old revealed ahead of the match that she is still haunted by her last appearance in the semi-finals seven years ago, when she held match point against Li Na but lost, and that added to the tension.
She said: "It means so much to me. I got really tight at 5-4. After two good first serves, I thought calm down, it's all good, and then suddenly it wasn't good any more.
"I was here in the semi-finals against Li Na in 2011 and I had a match point and I lost, and that was definitely in my mind. I just tried to stay calm and I was lucky to get the win.
"I am normally very calm. My legs started shaking but I took a few deep breaths and once she had two set points I thought, well, it's a third set, just go for it."
It has been a stunning run for Belgian Mertens, who is mentored by former Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters, and she will break into the top 20 on Monday after almost doubling her career prize money.
Wozniacki, who will play either Simona Halep or Angelique Kerber for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, has twice reached the US Open final, losing to Clijsters in 2009 and Serena Williams in 2014.
