SYDNEY — World number two Simona Halep gave her injured left leg a good workout but bowed out of the Sydney International in the semi-finals after a hard-fought 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova on Friday.
Kuznetsova will play Costa Rican qualifier Monica Puig for the title later on Friday as organizers of the Australian Open warm-up look to catch up after Thursday's violent storm severely disrupted the event.
Halep, who on Friday was drawn to play a qualifier in the season's opening grand slam, came into the tournament with fitness concerns after pulling out of last week's Brisbane International due to a long-term Achilles injury.