Wozniacki overcomes Kerber to reach Qatar Total Open semi-finals

World number one Caroline Wozniacki emerged victorious from a three-set battle with Angelique Kerber in Doha on Friday to advance into the Qatar Total Open semi-finals.

This year’s Australian Open champion from Denmark defeated her German opponent 7-6 (7/4) 1-6 6-3 in a match that lasted two hours and 20 minutes.

Wozniacki will now face Petra Kvitova, who registered her 11th win in a row when Julia Goerges was forced to retire while a set down in their quarter-final, the score 6-4 2-1.

Meanwhile, world number two Simona Halep – the runner-up to Wozniacki in Melbourne last month – beat CiCi Bellis 6-0 6-4 in their last-eight match before announcing she was pulling out of the tournament due to a foot problem.

Halep would have faced Garbine Muguruza in the semi-finals but her retirement means the world number four is now through to the final. Muguruza beat Caroline Garcia 3-6 6-1 6-4.