Halep versus Bertens in Cincinnati final

A determined Kiki Bertens rallied past Czech Petra Kvitova to move into the Cincinnati Open final, where she was later joined by Simona Halep.

The world No.17 Bertens blasted 10 aces against world No.6 Kvitova to claim a 3-6 6-4 6-2 victory.

It was the Dutchwoman’s seventh consecutive win over a top-10 opponent and second victory over Kvitova in nine days. She also beat the Czech in last week’s Canadian Open.

Bertens will face world No.1 Simona Halep in Sunday’s decider after the Romanian accounted for Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-3 6-4.

Halep, who was beaten in last year’s Cincinnati final by Garbine Muguruza, is aiming for a second title in eight days and fourth in 2018 after she won the WTA event in Montreal.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for me to play another final and win it,” she said.

Known as more of a clay-court player, Bertens has reached a hard-court final for the first time, spending more time getting accustomed to the different style of play.

“I think also I’m less stressed,” she said. “So before the match, I’m less nervous than I used to be. Before I was like, ‘Oh, I play on centre court and a lot of people are watching.’ But now I’m just more relaxed.”

Bertens lost the last five games of the first set against Kvitova but took the second in which there were seven breaks of serve.

She did not face a break point in the final set and dropped just three points on serve.

A week of rain delays and double-duty days wore on players, many of whom wound up playing twice in a day.

Kvitova faded in her second straight three-set match.

“My legs were pretty heavy,” Kvitova said. “It was very, very tiring, the second set, and I just think that I couldn’t really find energy in the third one. I was really trying, but nothing.”