Halep, Kerber battle through to Qatar semi-finals

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World No.3 Simona Halep and three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber have come through tough tests on Thursday to reach the Qatar Open semi-finals.

Also through are Elina Svitolina and Elise Mertens.

It turns out that three of the world's top 10 are in the last four, despite a high number of prominent withdrawals from the tournament.

Halep won in straight sets but needed two tie-breaks – 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (8/6) – to edge past Germany's Julia Goerges.

"I am very happy, honestly," said Halep. "It's been a really tough match and it is always tough to play against her."

The Romanian will play world's 7th ranking Svitolina on Friday.

Halep has lost her three last matches against the Ukrainian, failing to win a single set in those matches, stretching back to 2017.

Angeluique Kerber in action during the first day of Australian Open, January 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, world No.6 Kerber won 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) in a tough and feisty encounter against Czech Barbora Strycova.

"We played so many times against each other," the German told reporters. "You never know what to expect, if she is playing serve and volley or just moving, playing fast.”

It will be Kerber's first semi-final since she won at Wimbledon last year, who suffered one of her career's worst defeats last month at Australian Open when she won only two games against Danielle Collins.

(With input from AFP and Reuters)