Tennis news - Belinda Bencic beats Simona Halep to reach semi-finals in Dubai

The third-seeded Romanian took the first set 6-4, but was unable to hold off the challenge of Bencic who came back and won the next two sets 6-4 6-2 to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Petra Kvitova claimed eight games in a row to win in straight sets 6-4 6-0 over world number 46 Viktoria Kuzmova. Kvitova, the 2019 Australian Open finalist, will take on Hsieh Su-wei in the last-four.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina beat Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets to progress.