China Open: Simona Halep world number one after win over Jelena Ostapenko
Last updated on .From the section Tennis

Simona Halep has become world number one for the first time by beating Jelena Ostapenko to reach the final of the China Open.
Romanian Halep won 6-2 6-4 in Beijing and will replace Spain's Garbine Muguruza at the top of the rankings.
She will face France's Caroline Garcia, who beat Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-3 7-5, in Sunday's final.
Garcia also maintained her hopes of denying Britain's Johanna Konta a place at the WTA Finals.
If the Frenchwoman wins the China Open, Konta must reach the final of the Kremlin Cup, which starts on 16 October, to claim the eighth and final place at the season finale in Singapore.
World number 15 Garcia has put together a decent run of form in the latter stages of the season.
Last month, she claimed the biggest title of her career at the Wuhan Open in China, beating Australian Ashleigh Barty in the final.
And in Beijing, the 23-year-old was dominant on her second serve and broke Kvitova to close out the match and line up a final against the new world number one.
Halep rises to the top
Halep, 26, will be confirmed in the number one spot when the rankings are released on Monday.
Having suffered a shock defeat by Ostapenko in this year's French Open final, Halep was always in control in her semi-final against the world number eight.
In June, Ostapenko denied Halep both a first Grand Slam title and the number one ranking with a stunning win in Paris.
The 20-year-old Latvian trailed by a set and was 3-0 down in the second but prevailed to become the first unseeded woman to win at Roland Garros since 1933.
But Saturday's semi-final was a more one-sided affair as Halep broke Ostapenko in the first game of the match.
Her serve was superior throughout - she won 75% of points on her first serve as she was broken just once.
Follow tennis with the BBC |
---|
Alerts: Tennis news sent to your phone |
My Sport: Sign up to follow tennis news |
Comments
Join the conversation
others can argue that it actually shows how competative it is at the moment.
Congrats to Halep. Need to win GS or she'll be exactly the same as Wozniacki
Now go get that Slam, baby!
Now you've got that bit out the way I think you are ready for a Slam or two or more. It's time to surpass the record of the last Romanian No 1, Ilie Nastase and do what he never did, win the Australian Open.
"Not the real number one....Queen Serena is that!!"
Serena isn't around, and if if she was, given her age, is doubtful she's be #1-ranked.
Simona, who once beat Serena 6-3, 6-0, fully deserves the # 1 ranking.
Heart says Halep, head says Garcia.
Good look to both.
on
13 minutes ago
@15
I been a tennis addict since about 1973..."
Then you should know how the ranking system works then.
me